The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has strongly condemned the recent visit by Israel’s far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, accusing him of deliberately stoking tensions to ignite a “religious war” at one of Islam’s holiest sites.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Hamas described the visit by Ben Gvir who also holds the post of National Security Minister as a blatant provocation and a clear insult to Muslim sentiments and the sacred status of al-Aqsa in the Islamic world. The group called the incursion a “deliberate provocation” that reflects the extremist nature of the Israeli leadership.
“These repeated violations highlight the arrogance of the Israeli government and its drive to escalate religious tensions,” the statement read.
Hamas also expressed concern over the increasing number of Israeli settlers entering the mosque compound and performing Talmudic rituals an act considered highly provocative by Palestinians. The group reiterated its commitment to defending the mosque and resisting any attempts to alter its Islamic identity or impose a division of control.
Calling for broader solidarity, Hamas urged Muslim and Arab communities around the world to take a stand and support efforts to protect the site from what it describes as Israeli aggression.
Earlier in the day, Ben-Gvir, accompanied by a group of settlers, entered the al-Aqsa compound in occupied East Jerusalem and carried out religious rituals in its courtyard. This was not the first time he has done so since joining the Israeli cabinet in 2022.
Under the long-standing agreement between Israel and Jordan, which followed Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, non-Muslim worship is officially banned at the al-Aqsa compound. However, in practice, the status quo is frequently violated, often to the detriment of Palestinian worshippers.
This latest development comes as Israel’s military continues its devastating assault on Gaza, which has already claimed the lives of more than 55,000 Palestinians.
