Ben-Gavir in Al-Aqsa, Jordan-Hamas Strongly Condemns

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gavir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, Palestine. He was accompanied by other Israeli officials and more than 2,000 Israeli settlers.

Jordan and the Palestinian organization Hamas strongly condemned the entry of such a hardline individual into the holy mosque.

Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ambassador Fuad Majali said in a statement on Thursday (July 23) that such a move violates the historical and legal “status quo” of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

He called on the international community to exert effective pressure on Israel to stop its ongoing violations against the Islamic and Christian religious holy sites in Jerusalem.

On the other hand, Hamas also strongly condemned the incident, calling it an “open aggression.” The group warned that such actions would ultimately “boomerang on the occupying forces and their settlers.”

Hamas said, “Our people and our resistance will never remain silent in the face of the desecration of our holy sites.”

Israel and Palestinians have long been at loggerheads over the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. For Muslims, it is the third holiest site in Islam, while for Jews, the same area is as important a religious site as the Temple Mount.