Israeli Far-Right Minister visits Al-Aqsa Mosque compound with settlers

The visit by Ben-Gvir, who leads the far-right Jewish Power party, triggered immediate tensions at the holy site, which is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. The compound has been governed by a decades-old status quo arrangement that restricts access and activities by Israeli officials and Jewish visitors in ways intended to preserve the site's religious significance and prevent escalation of communal tensions.

The minister's entry to the compound, accompanied by settlers, represented a departure from these established protocols. Al-Aqsa Mosque is among Islam's holiest sites and sits atop the Temple Mount, which holds profound religious significance in Judaism as the location of the ancient Jewish temples.

Ben-Gvir's visit underscores ongoing friction over access to and control of Jerusalem's most sensitive religious sites. His political movement has previously advocated for expanded Jewish prayer rights at the compound, positions that have drawn criticism from Palestinian and international observers as destabilizing to the volatile status quo.

The incident comes amid broader Israeli-Palestinian tensions in the region. The compound's administration and security arrangements have long been a flashpoint for disputes between Israeli authorities and Palestinian leadership, with even symbolic breaches of established protocols carrying potential to inflame communal passions.