Israeli so-called “National Security” Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stromed on Wednesday Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Al-Quds in a provocative visit just days before the start of the Jewish Passover.
Ben-Gvir, who temporarily stepped away from his government position earlier this year before returning, has made several visits to the holy site since assuming office in late 2022.
Muslim Waqf (endowment) in occupied Al-Quds announce dthat the extremist Israeli minister stromed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He was accompanied by a Jewish rabbi and a number of Israeli settlers.
The visit drew condemnation by Hamas Palestinian resistance group and Jordan.Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir storms Al-Aqsa Mosque at this moment.
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) April 2, 2025
Hamas described the move as a dangerous provocation and escalation, noting that “it comes as part of the ongoing genocide against our Palestinian people and the efforts of the terrorist government, led by war criminal Netanyahu, to Judaize Al-Aqsa Mosque and impose a new reality in the holy city.” The resistance group called upon the “Palestinian people and revolutionary youth in the West Bank to escalate confrontations with this arrogant enemy in all areas.” Jordan condemned the far-right minister, calling it 'an unacceptable provocation' and a 'dangerous escalation'.
Haredi Leader Slams Visit The move also elicited criticism within the Israeli coalition, as it has in the past.Jordan condemned on Wednesday Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, calling it 'an unacceptable provocation' and a 'dangerous escalation'.
The extremist politician stormed the third holiest site in Islam in… pic.twitter.com/ADEa45yxSY
— KUWAIT TIMES (@kuwaittimesnews) April 2, 2025
Tagging Ben Gvir in a tweet, ultra-Orthodox MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) wrote that the visit is “an attack on the sanctity of the holiest place for the Jewish people and on the status quo” agreed upon by leading religious scholars.
Ben Gvir’s visit “does not demonstrate sovereignty; on the contrary, it constitutes desecration of holiness and causes unnecessary incitement in the Muslim world,” he tweets, appealing to the minister to “stop ascending the Temple Mount.”