suwandi-tan
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined hundreds of Israelis in a heavily guarded incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday, an act that Palestinian officials condemned as a dangerous provocation capable of igniting a religious war in the region.
The intrusion took place on the third day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, according to the Jerusalem governorate, which reported that Israeli forces sealed off intersections and streets surrounding the Old City that lead to the compound in occupied East Jerusalem. The site is revered by Muslims as Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site, while Jews refer to it as the Temple Mount.
Witnesses reported that participants danced in circles and sang within the courtyards of the mosque during the raid. The Jerusalem governorate stated that approximately 900 people entered the compound during the morning hours, marking one of the larger such incursions in recent memory.
Ben-Gvir, who has repeatedly drawn international condemnation for his visits to the sensitive site, used the occasion to deliver defiant remarks. "We are the owners of the place in Al-Aqsa and in the prisons, and we have turned the lives of terrorist prisoners into hell," he declared. He further asserted that "the people of Israel are on the path to absolute victory, and today we pray in Al-Aqsa, which is the most important place for the Jewish people."
The incursion coincided with Israeli authorities forcing dozens of Palestinian shopkeepers to shutter their businesses and ordering residents to remain inside their homes in areas adjacent to the mosque, ostensibly to facilitate Jewish prayers during Sukkot. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel documented the closures, stating that "dozens of Palestinian owners of shops, cafes and restaurants in the Cotton Merchants Market in Jerusalem's Old City were forced to close them during the Jewish Sukkot holiday to make way for Jewish prayers in the market."
Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh characterized the event as "playing with fire and a dangerous provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world." He warned that Israel was deliberately seeking to ignite a "religious war" in the region, reflecting longstanding Palestinian concerns that such incursions are part of a broader effort to alter the status quo at the holy site.
The incident is not isolated. Since 2003, Israeli police have permitted groups of Israelis to conduct daily incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, with exceptions made only on Fridays and Saturdays. This policy has drawn persistent criticism from Palestinian leaders and the international community, who view it as a violation of longstanding agreements governing the site.
Tensions surrounding Al-Aqsa have been particularly acute this year. Israel prevented Eid al-Fitr prayers at the compound, permitting only 10,000 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank—home to 3.3 million people—to enter for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan. Such restrictions have fueled anger among Palestinian worshippers and heightened fears of a broader escalation.
The compound, located in East Jerusalem, was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed in a move not recognized by the international community. Under a longstanding arrangement often referred to as the "status quo," non-Muslim prayer at the site is prohibited, though Jewish visits have been permitted under certain conditions. Critics argue that recent years have seen a systematic erosion of these rules, with far-right Israeli figures like Ben-Gvir openly advocating for greater Jewish access and prayer rights.
Ben-Gvir's participation in Monday's incursion carries particular significance given his position as a senior government minister. His presence signals tacit state endorsement of actions that Palestinians and much of the international community consider illegal and inflammatory. Previous visits by Ben-Gvir to the compound have triggered widespread outrage, including from the United States and European governments, which have warned that such actions jeopardize regional stability.
The timing of the incursion, during Sukkot, adds another layer of sensitivity. The holiday commemorates the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the desert, and it is traditionally marked by prayers and ceremonies. However, the decision to hold prayers at Al-Aqsa—a site of immense religious significance to both Muslims and Jews—has raised concerns about the politicization of religious observance.
Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem described feeling intimidated and marginalized by the closures and the heavy security presence. Shopkeepers in the Cotton Merchants Market, a historic commercial area, were forced to close during one of the busiest periods of the year, compounding economic hardship. Residents ordered to remain indoors expressed frustration at being confined while Israeli groups moved freely through their neighborhoods.
The incursion also drew attention to the broader context of Israeli-Palestinian tensions, including ongoing violence in the West Bank and Gaza. Recent weeks have seen Israeli forces and settlers attack mosques in the West Bank, with worshippers tear-gassed during raids. In Gaza, Israeli strikes have killed civilians, including children, further inflaming passions across the region.
Analysts suggest that Ben-Gvir's actions are aimed at consolidating support among his far-right base while testing the limits of international tolerance. By openly declaring Jewish ownership of the site, he challenges the delicate balance that has historically governed access to Al-Aqsa, potentially setting the stage for wider confrontation. Palestinian leaders argue that such provocations are designed to provoke a reaction that Israel can then use to justify further crackdowns.
The international community has yet to issue a formal response to Monday's incursion, though diplomats have privately expressed concern about the potential for escalation. The United Nations and various human rights organizations have repeatedly called on Israel to respect the status quo at the holy site and to refrain from actions that could trigger religious conflict.
For Palestinians, the incursion represents another painful chapter in a long history of dispossession and marginalization in Jerusalem. The forced closures, the heavy police escort, and the defiant rhetoric of Israeli officials all contribute to a sense of siege. Many fear that without sustained international pressure, such incidents will become more frequent and more brazen, eroding the already fragile prospects for peace.
As the Sukkot holiday continues, attention remains focused on whether further incursions will occur and how Palestinian worshippers and the broader Muslim world will respond. The events of Monday serve as a stark reminder of the volatility surrounding Al-Aqsa and the risks of allowing political agendas to override religious sensitivities.
Comments (0)