The far-right Israeli pastor sparked rage on Sunday after leading a group of prayer worshippers in Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, despite a decades-old agreement that forbids Jews from worshiping there.
The Itamar Ben Gwyr state, convicted of supporting terrorism in Israel and incited anti-Arab racism in Israel, is a compound of the Al-Aqsa Mosque known to Jews as a mountain of temples, commemorates Tisha Bhav, Jewish Day of Mourning. At Tisha Bhav, the Jews mark the destruction of two ancient temples that once stood on the land.
While there he “conquered” Gaza in his country and “encouraged” the Palestinians to leave the enclave.
The complex is the sacred place in Judaism that Jews face in prayer. It is also the third most sacred place in Islam.
Anyone can visit the site, but according to an understanding known as the “Status Agreement” that has existed since Israel captured the old city of Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967, only Muslims are allowed to pray there.
Ben Gvir has visited the complex many times before, including his previous Tisha B’av Memorial. Before he led the congregation in prayer there.
The Palestinian Ministry of Religion quickly denounced Ben Gwil, calling him an “extremist” and said he “blatantly ignores the feelings of Muslims not only Palestinians, but around the world.”
Islamic holy sites are subject to “daily violations by settlers who are operating under the protection of right-wing governments who are actively working to seize control of both Islamic and Christian holy sites through clear and systematic plans,” the ministry said in a statement.
Jordan and Saudi Arabia, which manage the holy sites, also condemned Ben Gwil’s actions. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as “a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, an unacceptable provocation and a condemned escalation.”
Hamas called the move “a tomb and an escalating crime against the mosque.”
The Palestinians want East Jerusalem, where the compounds are located, as the capital of the future state. Most of the international community considers the eastern sector of the city to be under Israeli occupation.
Later on Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement that “policies to maintain the status quo at Temple Mount remain unchanged.”
In the past, the PMO has emphasized that policies regarding the site will be decided by the Israeli government and its prime minister, not by the individual.
While on the site on Sunday, Ben Gwil prayed “for the full victory in the war of Israel and the safe return of all hostages,” his office said.
“The message must be sent from here, to conquer the entire Gaza Strip, declare all sovereignty over Gaza, eliminate all Hamas members, and encourage voluntary immigration,” the minister said in a video recorded in the compound. “Only this way we can regain hostages and win the war.”
Earlier this week, Ben Gwyr was declared a persona non-grata from the Netherlands, who incited violence against Palestinians, insisted on expanding illegal settlements and reportedly “seek for ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip,” wrote Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Berdkamp.
This came after Israeli Finance Minister Bezarel Smotrich after Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the UK imposed sanctions on him in June.
