Netanyahu tours tunnels beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Netanyahu and his wife traversed the tunnel system running beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, one of Islam's holiest sites located in East Jerusalem. The underground passages, known as the Western Wall Tunnels, extend along the western side of the compound and have long been a point of contention between Israeli and Palestinian authorities.

The visit underscores ongoing Israeli interest in archaeological and structural features of the Old City, an area whose status remains disputed in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Israel maintains that the tunnels provide historical evidence of ancient Jewish presence in the region, while Palestinians view such activities as provocative assertions of Israeli control over contested territory.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, situated atop the Temple Mount, remains one of the most sensitive religious sites in the world. Access to and activities within the compound have repeatedly triggered regional tensions, with any perceived Israeli assertions of authority drawing sharp responses from Palestinian leaders and the international community.

The timing and nature of high-profile visits to the site often carry significant political implications, reflecting broader disputes over Jerusalem's future status and the rights of different religious communities to access and control holy sites within the city.