logo
Israel's Ben-Gvir says he prayed at Al-Aqsa mosque compound

Israel's Ben-Gvir says he prayed at Al-Aqsa mosque compound

LBCI2 days ago
Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Sunday and said he prayed there, defying the long-standing rules governing one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East.
Under a decades-old and delicate "status quo" arrangement with Islamic authorities, the Al-Aqsa mosque is administered by a Jordanian religious body. Jews are allowed to visit the site but are not permitted to pray there.
Footage published by a small Jewish group called the Temple Mount Administration showed Ben Gvir leading a group of worshippers at the site. Other videos circulating online appeared to show him praying. Reuters was unable to immediately verify the content of those other clips.
Reuters
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Occupation or siege? Israel's leadership split on Gaza strategy
Occupation or siege? Israel's leadership split on Gaza strategy

LBCI

time5 hours ago

  • LBCI

Occupation or siege? Israel's leadership split on Gaza strategy

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian Israel's military establishment has entered a new standoff with the political leadership following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to pursue the occupation of Gaza. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir canceled a planned visit to Washington and, according to leaked internal discussions, stated that he would not issue orders for the army to occupy Gaza. He reportedly added that if forced to implement the decision, he would resign. In response, Netanyahu convened a limited security meeting at his office with ministers Israel Katz and Ron Dermer, Chief of Staff Zamir, and Operations Directorate head Itzik Cohen, aiming to finalize the nature of military operations in Gaza — whether to launch a full occupation or adopt Zamir's alternative: encirclement combined with targeted strikes. Ministers Katz and Itamar Ben-Gvir escalated tensions ahead of the meeting, pressuring the army chief. Katz insisted that the chief of staff is obligated to carry out decisions made by the political leadership, while Ben-Gvir publicly demanded that Zamir implement the Gaza occupation plan. Zamir, instead, recommended focused operations in central Gaza refugee camps, along with the establishment of a security cordon aimed at wearing down Hamas and prioritizing the safety of hostages. He argued that the failure to eliminate Hamas after 22 months of war would not be resolved through the occupation of Gaza. Amid these diverging positions, expectations are growing for a possible compromise between the political and military leadership. Some political and security officials believe Netanyahu floated the 'Gaza occupation' proposal as a tactical move — both to pressure Hamas into advancing toward a deal on his terms and to appease members of his coalition who view occupation as the only path to defeating Hamas.

Turkey sets up parliamentary commission to oversee PKK disarmament
Turkey sets up parliamentary commission to oversee PKK disarmament

LBCI

time8 hours ago

  • LBCI

Turkey sets up parliamentary commission to oversee PKK disarmament

Turkey's parliament launched a commission on Tuesday to oversee the disarmament of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group following its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan's call for it to end its insurgency. Thirty PKK militants burned their weapons in a ceremony in northern Iraq last month, marking a symbolic first step towards ending a decades-long struggle with Turkey in which more than 40,000 people have been killed. Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus told lawmakers at the opening of the first session that one of the commission's responsibilities would be to oversee the disarmament process. "With the complete disarmament, the preparation of legal regulations that will make peace permanent is also among the responsibilities of this commission," Kurtulmus said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store