Ben-Gvir leads Israeli settlers in storming Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for provocative prayers

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led thousands of settlers into Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, openly conducting Jewish prayers in violation of the 1967 status quo agreement.
Flanked by Likud officials and 4,000 supporters, he called for Gaza's occupation and Palestinian "voluntary migration", sparking condemnations from Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
While Prime Minister Netanyahu maintains the status quo remains, Ben-Gvir's control over police has enabled escalating Jewish prayer at Islam's third holiest site.
The Waqf foundation reported unprecedented settler numbers and overt religious displays, deliberately eroding longstanding arrangements.
This provocation risks reigniting violence like the 2021 Hamas-Israel war, occurring amid growing ceasefire demands.
With tensions already high from the Gaza conflict, the minister's defiance threatens further regional escalation.

Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel-Hamid reports from Amman, Jordan.

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Post from Al Jazeera on August 03, 2025

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