7 months ago
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Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, visited the Al-Aqsa compound connected Wednesday (October 8, 2025), arsenic indirect negotiations betwixt Israel and Hamas were being held successful Egypt connected ending the Gaza war.
The sojourn is Mr. Ben Gvir’s 11th arsenic Minister to the disputed area, located successful occupied eastbound Jerusalem, which contains Islam’s third-holiest tract and is Judaism’s holiest place, revered arsenic the determination of the archetypal and 2nd Jewish temples.
The Palestinian Authority’s overseas ministry said it powerfully condemned Ben Gvir’s “repeated incursions” into the site, describing them arsenic “criminal and provocative practices”.
Hamas besides condemned the visit, calling it a “deliberate provocation” that “violates the sanctity of Al-Aqsa and the feelings of Muslims worldwide.”
The Palestinian radical added the sojourn coincided with the “painful anniversary” of deadly clashes successful Jerusalem connected October 8, 1990, successful which astatine slightest 15 Palestinians were killed.
In a video connection from the esplanade, Mr. Ben Gvir referred to the 2nd day of Hamas’s onslaught connected Israel connected October 7, 2023, that sparked 2 years of warfare successful Gaza.
“We are 2 years aft the unspeakable massacre — present astatine the Temple Mount determination is victory,” Mr. Ben Gvir said.
“I lone commune that our Prime Minister volition let a implicit triumph successful Gaza arsenic good — to destruct Hamas, with God’s assistance to bring backmost the hostages,” helium added.
Mr. Ben Gvir’s sojourn was conducted arsenic Israel and Hamas were engaging successful the 3rd time of indirect talks successful Egypt to scope an extremity to the two-year warfare successful Gaza.
The Security Minister has antecedently threatened to discontinue Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conjugation authorities unless Hamas is destroyed.
‘Flagrant violation’
Videos circulating connected societal media showed Mr. Ben Gvir walking connected the esplanade accompanied by a radical of spiritual Jews singing liturgical songs.
The Waqf, the Jordanian custodian of the site, said 1,300 “extremist Jews” went into the compound Wednesday (October 8, 2025) morning.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the sojourn arsenic “a flagrant violation” of the presumption quo astatine the compound, an unwritten statement which forbids non-Muslim supplication connected the site.
Saudi Arabia besides denounced “the continued attacks connected the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque,” successful a Foreign Ministry statement.
Mr. Ben Gvir’s sojourn besides coincided with the 2nd time of the Jewish vacation of Sukkot, during which Jews were commanded to marque a pilgrimage to the Temple successful past times.
In caller years, the presumption quo knowing betwixt Israel and Jordan has been repeatedly violated by Jewish visitors, including members of the Israeli parliament.
Mr. Ben Gvir conducted a nationalist supplication connected the flashpoint tract successful August, connected the juncture of Tisha B’Av, a fasting time to commemorate the demolition of the 2 Jewish temples.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem and annexed it successful 1967, successful a determination not recognised by the immense bulk of the planetary community.
