Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem on August 31, 2026, accompanied by settlers and under the protection of Israeli security forces. During the visit, Ben-Gvir performed prayers and expressed intentions to change the historical status quo of the site, which is considered the third-holiest in Islam.
According to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Ben-Gvir, along with several rabbis and security personnel, conducted Talmudic prayers in the eastern section of the mosque's courtyards. The status quo arrangement established in 1967 prohibits non-Muslims from performing prayers at the site, although Jewish visitors are allowed.
Ben-Gvir stated, "When I was 14 years old, prayer was forbidden, and anyone who murmured was arrested. Today we see redemption. It is very moving to be with you today, and you are right, we must blow the shofar and bring the prayer incantations, and there must be a temple… a temple… a temple… but little by little," as reported by Al Jazeera Arabic’s Elias Karram.
The minister, who leads the far-right Jewish Power party, has visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound multiple times since taking office in 2022, prompting widespread criticism. He has been associated with the settler movement, which seeks to establish a Jewish synagogue at the site.
The Jerusalem governorate condemned the visit, labeling it a dangerous escalation and a violation of the mosque's historical and legal status, as well as an attempt to impose new realities and alter its Islamic identity. Since 2003, Israeli police have permitted settlers to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound daily, with exceptions on Fridays and Saturdays. Restrictions on Palestinian worshippers have been noted, including limiting access during significant religious events such as Eid al-Fitr this year, where only 10,000 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank were allowed entry for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan.