Israeli Minister Storms Al-Aqsa Mosque Day Before Elections
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Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex on Monday, accompanied by MK Moshe Feiglin, just before Tuesday's general elections. The visit, under heavy police escort, follows Ben-Gvir's repeated calls to expand Jewish prayer at the site. This action has raised Palestinian concerns about altering the existing status quo at the sensitive holy site.
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- Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered Al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday with MK Moshe Feiglin.
- The visit occurred the day before Israeli general elections and amid rising tensions.
- Ben-Gvir has previously entered Al-Aqsa and advocated for expanded Jewish prayer.
- Palestinians fear these actions could change the existing status quo at the holy site.
- The current arrangements allow non-Muslim visits but restrict prayer to Muslims.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex on Monday under heavy police guard, accompanied by far-right Knesset member Moshe Feiglin. The visit occurred the day before Tuesday's general elections and amid a rise in Israeli incursions into the mosque and Ben-Gvir's calls to expand Jewish prayer within its courtyards.
According to the Governorate of Jerusalem, Ben-Gvir and Feiglin entered the mosque, while local sources reported that Ben-Gvir prayed at the Western Wall. The area was heavily secured by Israeli police and special units. A circulating image showed Ben-Gvir surrounded by police officers and special units near the mosque.
Ben-Gvir's visit is consistent with his past actions regarding Al-Aqsa. He has entered the mosque on several occasions before, including in August 2025 and April 2026, and has previously stated he prayed there. These actions have drawn Palestinian and Jordanian objections. Following his August 2025 visit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that the policy of maintaining the status quo at the site remained unchanged.
Ben-Gvir's April 2026 visit saw him express a desire to expand Jewish access to the site, drawing criticism from Jordan and Palestine regarding the potential impact on the existing arrangements. The current arrangements, managed by Jordan's Islamic Waqf Department, permit non-Muslim visits but restrict prayer to Muslims.
The visit comes at a politically sensitive time, with Al-Aqsa at the center of political and religious tensions over prayer arrangements and Israeli actions within the complex. Palestinian fears are mounting that Ben-Gvir's calls for expanded Jewish prayer could alter the status quo, especially with repeated police-escorted incursions.
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