LONDON: Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday along with dozens of extremist settlers.
The raid, which came on the final day of the Jewish Sukkot holiday, involved tours of the Al-Aqsa courtyards and the performance of Talmudic rituals in the eastern area of the mosque, under the protection of the Israeli police, according to Wafa news agency.
It coincided with increased Israeli military measures at Al-Aqsa and in the walled city of occupied East Jerusalem.
This week, Ben-Gvir has led multiple raids into the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Last Wednesday, he guided 1,200 settlers into the holy site, coinciding with the second day of Sukkot.
Thousands of Israeli settlers have entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque since September to mark various holidays, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the recent Sukkot.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Ben-Gvir’s provocative tour of the holy site, also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount.
“(This is) a blatant violation of the historical and legal status quo governing Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and a desecration of its sanctity,” it said in a statement.
The ministry added that Israel does not have sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, and warned against Israeli efforts to cause divisions over the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Petra news agency reported.
