Israel’s far-right minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, joined thousands of Jewish extremists on Thursday in a visit to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. The group entered the compound—known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount—under the protection of armed police. During the visit, participants engaged in prayer, waved Israeli flags, and sang the national anthem, a display viewed as a significant show of political influence at the site.
This event coincided with Tisha B’Av, a Jewish holy day marking the destruction of the first and second temples in antiquity. The Islamic Waqf Department, which is responsible for the administration of the site, reported that 3,228 Israelis entered the compound during the morning, with thousands more anticipated later in the day. Among those present was Likud lawmaker Amit Halevi, who participated in the singing and flag-waving, according to reports citing activists advocating for Jewish worship at the location.
The status quo, a long-standing agreement, has historically prohibited non-Muslim prayer at the site. However, Ben-Gvir has consistently worked to alter these rules, including authorizing the presence of prayer and religious materials for Jewish visitors. In January, he appointed an ideological ally as the head of the Jerusalem police, further facilitating these shifts. Ben-Gvir noted on social media that the visit represented “enormous progress” and that those praying there “feel like the owners.” He has previously stated his desire to see an Israeli flag raised at the site and a synagogue constructed there.
The Palestinian ministry of religious endowments and affairs condemned the actions, stating that such provocations from the highest levels of the Israeli government aim to incite a regional religious war. The activist group Peace Now also labeled the prayers a “dangerous provocation” that violates the fragile status quo. Furthermore, the Jordanian foreign ministry issued a strong condemnation, urging the international community to hold Israel accountable for violations against Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly supported Jewish prayer at the site, asserting that the changes implemented by Ben-Gvir were coordinated with his office, despite maintaining that Israel has not violated the status quo. The incident follows a trend of tensions at the site; historical visits have triggered major unrest, including the second Palestinian intifada in 2000 and the October 2023 conflict. Additionally, incidents of violence were reported overnight in the Old City, where some individuals attacked Palestinians and vandalized a Muslim cemetery near the Lions’ Gate, leading to 16 arrests by police.
Thursday is the Jewish holy day of Tisha B’Av, marking the destruction at the same site of the 10th-century BC first temple and the second temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in AD70.
Changes in the status quo agreement have historically driven conflict in Jerusalem and Palestine, with repercussions across the world. A visit in 2000 by the then Israeli opposition leader, Ariel Sharon, ignited the second Palestinian intifada, which lasted five years, and Hamas gave the name “al-Aqsa flood” to its att
