Israeli far-right minister visits disputed Al-Aqsa mosque compound

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday, entering the sacred Islamic site alongside settlers under the protection of Israeli occupation forces. The visit by the far-right politician marked a contentious incursion into one of Islam's most significant religious centers, located within the Al-Haram al-Sharif complex in the Old City.

Such visits by Israeli officials and settlers to the mosque compound have historically sparked tensions between Israeli and Palestinian communities, as well as broader regional unrest. Palestinian officials and rights groups have repeatedly condemned these visits as provocative incursions into a site of immense religious and cultural importance to Muslims worldwide.

The Al-Aqsa mosque compound remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The site is administered by the Jerusalem Waqf, an Islamic trust, though access is controlled by Israeli security authorities. Visits by Israeli figures to the compound often trigger heightened security concerns and community tensions in Jerusalem and across Palestinian territories.

Ben-Gvir, who heads the far-right National Security Party, has previously made visits to the compound that have generated significant controversy. His position in Israel's government has made such visits particularly sensitive from the perspective of Palestinian leadership and international observers monitoring the situation in occupied territories.