Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir led hundreds of Israelis into the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday 13 August and performed Talmudic rituals marking a Jewish holiday.
Ben Gvir: Israel’s very own far-right thug – well, one of them…
Ben Gvir, who has often defied the Israeli government’s longstanding ban on Jewish prayer at the mosque compound, vowed to “defeat Hamas” in Gaza in a video he filmed during his visit:
Jewish terrorist Ben Givir sings as he storms Al Aqsa mosque. Gulf arabs should stop claiming to be muslim. Their "islam" card is withdrawn.pic.twitter.com/ZnVP1JnjTh
— Syrian Girl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) August 13, 2024
On Tuesday morning, Ben Gvir and some 2,250 other far-right Israelis walked through the compound in groups, singing Jewish hymns, under the protection of Israeli police, an official from the Waqf, the Jordanian body that is custodian of the site, told AFP:
Minister Ben Gvir, instead of maintaining the status quo at the mosque is supervising the Judaisation operation and trying to change the situation inside Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli police also “imposed restrictions” on Muslim worshippers trying to enter the mosque, he said. Reports on social media showed multiple Israeli extremists at the site:
Gangs of violent settlers attack Palestinians making their way to Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem…🇵🇸💔 pic.twitter.com/VayB7LoZGA
— Pelham (@Resist_05) August 13, 2024
Jordan’s foreign ministry condemned the “storming” of the mosque, calling it a “flagrant violation of international law”.
The continual violations of the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its sanctities require a clear and firm international position that condemns these violations.
Images posted on social media networks showed Ben Gvir inside the compound while several Israelis lay on the ground performing Talmudic rituals:
Never before have we seen such scenes in which Itamar Ben Gvir challenges the entire Islamic world.
Today more than 2000 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa mosque to perform Talmudic rituals.
Arab muslim leaders why are you silent?
Muslims why are you silent?! pic.twitter.com/6blHqqo5UI
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) August 13, 2024
Al-Aqsa violated again
Ben Gvir released a video statement on social media platform X, which he filmed inside the compound himself, renewing his opposition to any truce in the war in Gaza:
וזה תיעוד מדהים.
בן גביר מצהיר ששהמדיניות היא שמותר להתפלל בהר הבית. ברקע צועקים "שמע ישראל" – הכל מול המשטרה שלא עושה דבר.
נתניהו ישקר לעולם בקרוב שיש סטטוס קוו.
אין כלום.
בעיקר אין משטרה. pic.twitter.com/0i6xJMZa6X— Josh Breiner (@JoshBreiner) August 13, 2024
“We must win this war. We must win and not go to the talks in Doha or Cairo,” he said, referring to the US-backed negotiations for a truce and hostage release deal for Gaza to resume on Thursday:
We can defeat Hamas… we must bring them down to their knees.
The office of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Ben Gvir’s visit “deviated from the status quo”:
Israel’s policy on the Temple Mount has not changed; this is how it has been and this is how it will be.
Tuesday’s entry into the Al-Aqsa compound comes on the Jewish mourning day of Tisha Be’Av that commemorates the destruction of the ancient temple.
Last month too, Ben Gvir, who is known for violent incitement, said he had prayed inside the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, defying the longstanding rules that permit Jewish visits but forbid prayer.
Feature image via X – screengrab
Additional reporting via Agence France-Presse
