Hamas: Ben-Gvir inciting 'religious war' after Al-Aqsa Mosque storming
Local sources reported that more than 100 Israeli police officers were deployed in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa to secure Ben-Gvir's entry, which occurred alongside a group of settlers from his far-right Otzma Yehudit party.
The incursion coincided with the arrival of 206 Israeli settlers who also entered the compound during the morning hours, performing religious rituals under police protection.
The Islamic Endowment Department in Jerusalem confirmed the storming, stating that 'far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was among those who stormed the compound,' describing the move as part of a pattern of provocative visits by the minister since joining the Israeli government in 2022.
During Ben-Gvir's presence in the compound, Israeli police reportedly barred Palestinian worshippers from entering, in what many observers saw as a clear attempt to assert unilateral control over the sacred site.
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas strongly condemned the visit. In a statement released shortly after the incident, the group said, 'The extremist Ben-Gvir's storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and his provocative tour of its courtyards, in a repeated and escalating scene, represent a challenge and contempt for the feelings of Muslims and the sanctity and status of Al-Aqsa among the Islamic nation.'
The statement accused Ben-Gvir and the Israeli government of deliberately provoking religious tensions and attempting to incite a wider conflict.
'We warn against the escalation of settler incursions and the performance of Talmudic rituals within the Al-Aqsa compound.'
Hamas also issued a call to action urging 'our people in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the occupied interior to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque, intensify their presence there, and confront the incursions and rampages of the settlers.'
Ben-Gvir has made multiple controversial visits to the mosque compound since assuming his post, often during sensitive religious or national dates. His most recent visit before today occurred on May 26, when he entered the site to mark the anniversary of Israel's 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem.
On that occasion, Ben-Gvir declared from inside the compound that 'praying and prostrating on the Temple Mount had become possible,' expressing satisfaction at the growing number of settlers entering the site.
Today's storming comes just one day after the governments of Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway jointly imposed sanctions on both Ben-Gvir and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes, citing their repeated incitement to violence against Palestinians and role in fueling tensions across the occupied territories.
The mosque compound houses one of Islam's most sacred sites as well as Judaism's holy Temple Mount.
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