Israel’s far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, participated in a large gathering of Jewish nationalists at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa compound on Thursday, in a move that has intensified tensions surrounding the sensitive site. Escorted by armed police, thousands of Jewish visitors prayed, waved Israeli flags, and sang the national anthem within the compound, actions viewed by many Palestinians and international observers as a breach of the longstanding status quo agreement governing the site.
The compound, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, has been subject to a delicate and fragile arrangement that prohibits non-Muslim prayer. However, Ben-Gvir has, in recent years, challenged this understanding through repeated visits accompanied by changes in the rules for Jewish visitors, such as permitting the public recital of prayers and the introduction of printed religious materials inside the site. Earlier this year, Ben-Gvir appointed an ally as head of the Jerusalem police, facilitating more aggressive enforcement of these changes.
The event coincided with Tisha B’Av, a Jewish day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples. Supporters, including Likud lawmaker Amit Halevi, took part in raising Israeli flags and singing nationalistic songs at the site. Ben-Gvir described the occasion as evidence of “enormous progress,” stating that Jewish worshippers “feel like the owners” of the compound, and has previously expressed desires to erect an Israeli flag permanently and construct a synagogue there.
The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments condemned the visits, characterizing them as deliberate provocations “emanating from the highest political levels of the occupying government” aimed at inciting religious conflict across the region. The Islamic Waqf Department, which administers the site, reported that over 3,200 Israelis entered the compound during the morning, with further visitors expected throughout the day.
Opposition voices within Israel also criticized the visits. The Israeli activist group Peace Now labeled the prayers a “dangerous provocation” that violates the status quo arrangement designed to prevent unrest. Similarly, Jordan's foreign ministry issued a strong rebuke, urging the international community to pressure Israel to halt what it described as ongoing violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
The status quo arrangement has a fraught history, and attempts to alter it have frequently fueled regional violence. A notable example was the 2000 visit by then-opposition leader Ariel Sharon, which helped trigger the Second Intifada. More recently, Hamas cited Israeli actions at al-Aqsa as a justification for its October 2023 attack against Israel, which led to a deadly war in Gaza.
Despite Ben-Gvir’s provocative actions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly affirmed support for Jewish prayer at the site and claimed that the minister’s policy changes were coordinated with his office. Nonetheless, Netanyahu maintains that Israel has not violated the status quo. Amid continuing unrest, police arrested 16 Jewish suspects following violent confrontations with Palestinians in Jerusalem’s Old City on Wednesday night.