Ben-Gvir Leads Hundreds in Al-Aqsa Incursion During Sukkot
National Security Minister declares ownership of site as Israeli forces close Old City streets and restrict Palestinian movement near the holy mosque.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led hundreds of Israelis into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday under heavy police protection. The incursion occurred during the third day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot in occupied East Jerusalem. Authorities closed surrounding intersections to facilitate the entry of Jewish worshippers into the sensitive religious site known to Jews as the Temple Mount.
The Jerusalem governorate reported that nine hundred people entered the complex in the morning hours. It said participants danced in circles and sang within the courtyards of the mosque. Israeli security forces maintained a tight perimeter around the Old City, restricting access for Palestinians while allowing the large group of Jewish visitors to proceed with their activities inside the compound.
Ben-Gvir made provocative statements during the raid, asserting dominance over the location and the prison system. He claimed they own the site and have made life hell for incarcerated terrorists. He further stated that Israel is moving toward total victory by praying at what he described as the most significant place for the Jewish people today.
Palestinian shopkeepers faced significant disruptions as authorities forced them to close businesses near the mosque. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel noted that dozens of owners in the Cotton Merchants Market had to shut their cafes and restaurants. This measure was taken to make way for Jewish prayers in the market area, effectively displacing local economic activity to accommodate the holiday observances.
Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh condemned the act as a dangerous provocation to Muslim feelings worldwide. He warned that Israel is playing with fire and seeking to ignite a religious war in the region. Since 2003, Israeli police have permitted daily incursions by Jewish groups except on weekends, often imposing strict restrictions on Palestinian worshippers at one of Islam's holiest sites.