National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has often ignored the Israeli government’s long-standing ban, vowed in a video he shot during his visit that he would “defeat” Hamas in Gaza.

The complex is the third holiest site in Islam and a symbol of Palestinian national identity, but also the holiest site in Judaism, revered as the site of the ancient temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

Although Jews and other non-Muslims are allowed to visit the mosque complex in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem at set times, they are not allowed to pray or display religious symbols.

The visit comes at a tense time in the 10-month war between Israel and Hamas, with efforts to reach a ceasefire failing and Israel bracing for impending attacks by Iran and its proxies.

Ben Gvir’s recent visit was strongly condemned by both Muslim countries and Western powers, including the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ben Gvir had shown a “blatant disregard” for the status quo at the site and called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent such actions.

“These provocative actions only increase tensions at a crucial moment when all attention should be on ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement (for Gaza), secure the release of all hostages and create the conditions for broader regional stability,” he said.

A few days earlier, the White House had harshly called another far-right member of Netanyahu’s cabinet: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who had criticized President Joe Biden’s push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

In recent years, restrictions on the site have been increasingly ignored by hardline religious nationalists such as Ben Gvir, leading to sometimes violent reactions from Palestinians.

On Tuesday morning, he and about 2,250 other Israelis walked through the site in groups under the protection of Israeli police and sang Jewish hymns, an official from the Waqf, the Jordanian body that manages the site, told AFP.

Israeli police also imposed “restrictions” on Muslim worshippers attempting to enter the mosque, he said, adding that more than 700 Jews had also prayed there in the afternoon.

“Instead of maintaining the status quo in the mosque, Minister Ben Gvir is overseeing the Judaization operation and trying to change the situation in Al-Aqsa Mosque,” the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the matter.

– “Overly provocative” –

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry condemned the “storming” of the mosque and called it a “blatant violation of international law.”

“The ongoing violations of the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites require a clear and decisive international position condemning these violations,” ministry spokesman Sufyan al-Qudah said in a statement.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, an umbrella organisation of predominantly Muslim states, “strongly condemned the incident” and called it a “provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world”.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the UN was “opposed to any efforts to change the status quo within the holy sites.”

“This type of behavior is unhelpful and inappropriately provocative,” he added.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, wrote on X that the bloc strongly condemns Ben Gvir’s “provocations”.

The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “This new provocation is unacceptable.”

Images posted on social media showed Ben Gvir in the complex while several Israelis lay on the ground performing Talmudic rituals.

Ben Gvir released a video statement on X, which he himself filmed in the complex, renewing his opposition to any ceasefire in the Gaza war.

“We have to win this war. We have to win and not go to the talks in Doha or Cairo,” he said, referring to the US-backed negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, which are due to resume on Thursday.

“We can defeat Hamas… we must bring them to their knees,” Ben Gvir said.

The move into the Al-Aqsa complex on Tuesday takes place on the Jewish day of mourning Tisha B’Av, which commemorates the destruction of the ancient Temple.

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