Israeli Ben-Gvir visits at Al Aqsa mosque compound and he say prayed there

(Forelines) – Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister visited the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Sunday and stated he prayed there, contesting regulations pertaining to one of the Middle East’s most sensitive locations, according to Reuters report.

Jews are permitted to visit but are not permitted to pray at the Al-Aqsa compound, which is run by a Jordanian religious foundation under a tenuous “status quo” agreement with Muslim authorities that dates back several decades, as per the report.

Ben-Gvir led a group of people traveling into the area in videos made public by the Temple Mount Administration, a minor Jewish organization. Ben-Gvir looked to be praying in other recordings that have been making the rounds online. Reuters was unable to verify the content of the other videos right away, Reuters said.

According to Reuters, the pilgrimage to the area known to Jews as Temple Mount took place on Tisha B’av, the fast day that commemorates the demolition of two ancient Jewish temples that stood at the site centuries ago.

Ben-Gvir was among those 1,250 individuals who succeeded the site, according to the Waqf, the organization in control of maintaining the building. They reportedly prayed, shouted, and danced.

The regulations prohibiting non-Muslims from praying at the compound, which is the most sacred place in Judaism and the third-holiest place in Islam, are officially accepted by Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made statements claiming that this is not Israel’s policy after Ben-Gvir visited the location in the past and called for Jewish prayer to be permitted there, as per Reuters.

In a statement, Ben-Gvir claimed he prayed for Israel to defeat the Palestinian militant organization Hamas in the conflict in Gaza and for Israeli hostages held by militants there to return. He asked that Israel regain control of the entire area, reported by Reuters.

As per Reuters, one of the most fragile sights in the Middle East is the hillside compound in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Violence has previously been provoked and outraged in the Muslim world by suggestions that Israel will change the rules at the facility. Violence was not immediately reported on Sunday.

The spokesperson for President Mahmoud Abbas criticized Ben-Gvir’s visit, stating it “crossed all red lines,” Reuters reported.

“The international community, specifically the U.S. administration, is required to intervene immediately to put an end to the crimes of the settlers and the provocations of the extreme right-wing government in Al Aqsa Mosque, stop the war on the Gaza Strip and bring in humanitarian aid,”according to Reuters, citing Nabil Abu Rudeineh’s statement.