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Ben-Gvir joins hundreds of Israelis to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- Hundreds of Israelis, led by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem under police protection during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
- Israeli forces closed streets and intersections around the Old City to facilitate Jewish prayers, forcing Palestinian shopkeepers to close their businesses and residents to stay indoors near the mosque.
- Ben-Gvir declared the site as central to Jewish identity and victory, while Palestinians viewed the raid as a provocative act threatening to ignite religious conflict in the region.
- Since 2003, Israeli police have permitted daily incursions by Israelis into the Al-Aqsa compound, except on Fridays and Saturdays, escalating tensions around this sensitive religious site.
