On ‘Jerusalem Day’, Israeli Minister Ben Gvir Leads Jewish Entry into Al-Aqsa Compound – Violation of Religious Sanctity

On ‘Jerusalem Day’, Israeli Minister Ben Gvir Leads Jewish Entry into Al-Aqsa Compound – Violation of Religious Sanctity

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday during the controversial celebration of “Jerusalem Day,” which commemorates Israel’s 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem.

During Ben Gvir’s visit, over 900 extremist Jewish settlers, with assistance from Israeli police, entered the Al-Aqsa compound — known to Jews as the Temple Mount — according to the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf authority.

The group included members of the Israeli Knesset and rabbis, who, according to the Waqf, conducted "provocative Talmudic rituals" at various parts of the compound.

In one incident, a settler danced while waving an Israeli flag in the eastern section of Al-Aqsa, an act considered a violation of the long-standing religious status quo and agreements governing the site’s sanctity.

The Waqf reported that settlers attempted to bring in a Torah scroll through the Mughrabi Gate, and hundreds gathered in the Al-Buraq Square and around the Qattanin Gate to perform religious dances and rituals.

Far-right Israeli Knesset member Moshe Feiglin reportedly announced that he would also enter Al-Aqsa later in the day and present a medal to a retired Israeli soldier who took part in the 1967 capture of Jerusalem.

In anticipation of unrest, Israeli police imposed strict security measures across the Old City, erecting iron barricades at entrances such as the Damascus Gate and severely restricting Palestinian access.

Additionally, the annual “Flag March” was set to proceed through densely populated Palestinian neighborhoods such as Damascus Gate and Al-Wad Street — raising further tensions. Recent days have also seen increased settler violence and harassment of Muslim worshippers