JERUSALEM — In a provocative move on Wednesday, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prayed at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue “complete victory” over Hamas in Gaza. His actions at the site, one of the most politically and religiously sensitive locations in the world, have raised tensions amid ongoing conflicts in the region.
In a video shared by his Jewish Power party, Ben-Gvir, a staunch hardliner, declared that Israel was “winning” on the Temple Mount — a revered site for both Jews and Muslims. Ben-Gvir, who has long been an advocate for the expansion of Israeli settlements and a vocal supporter of nationalist-religious policies, addressed the significance of the site. He stated that, “Every house in Gaza has a picture of the Temple Mount, and today, two years later, we are winning on the Temple Mount. We are the owners of the Temple Mount.”
Ben-Gvir’s remarks came two years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which led to the Gaza war. The video also showed him praying at the Al-Aqsa compound, a move that directly challenged the long-standing “status quo” agreement, which restricts non-Muslim prayer at the site. Under this arrangement, the Al-Aqsa compound is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation, and Jews are allowed to visit but are prohibited from praying there.
Ben-Gvir’s defiant action follows a similar demonstration in August, during the Jewish fast day of Tisha B’av, when he prayed at the site in a gesture that again tested the delicate arrangement. His August visit prompted Netanyahu to affirm Israel’s commitment to maintaining the status quo at Al-Aqsa.
In the video released on Wednesday, Ben-Gvir voiced his desire for Israel to pursue what he called a “complete victory” in Gaza, focusing on the destruction of Hamas. “I only pray that our prime minister will allow a complete victory in Gaza as well – to destroy Hamas, with God’s help we will return the hostages, and we will win a complete victory,” he stated.
Ben-Gvir’s call for a decisive victory over Hamas comes as indirect negotiations are ongoing in Egypt, aiming to secure the release of Israeli hostages and bring an end to the ongoing violence in Gaza. Despite these talks, Ben-Gvir’s remarks underscore the tension and ideological divides within Israel’s political landscape, especially with regard to its approach to both Gaza and the sensitive Al-Aqsa site.
His recent actions reflect his hardline stance and the broader tension between Israel’s religious-nationalist factions and Muslim leaders, particularly over the status of Jerusalem. Any perceived change to the existing rules governing the Al-Aqsa compound has previously triggered protests and violence, and Ben-Gvir’s actions could further inflame tensions in an already volatile region.
As Israel continues its efforts to end the war in Gaza and secure its objectives, Ben-Gvir’s challenges to the “status quo” at Al-Aqsa remain a flashpoint in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
