World ( The cow news digital ) Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has once again entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound accompanied by dozens of Israeli settlers under heavy police protection, in a move that has drawn renewed regional concern.
According to eyewitness accounts and local reports, Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the site early Sunday morning and toured the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as Al-Aqsa Mosque. The visit was carried out under the protection of Israeli security forces and included a group of settlers who entered the area alongside the minister.
This marks the second such incident within a week, further escalating tensions surrounding one of the most sensitive religious sites in the region. Palestinian authorities and religious leaders have previously condemned similar visits, calling them provocative and a violation of the historic status quo governing the site.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem remains a focal point of Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Under longstanding arrangements, non-Muslim visits are permitted at certain times, but prayer and political activities by non-Muslims are widely regarded as a breach of the fragile status quo agreement.
In recent months, Itamar Ben-Gvir has faced repeated criticism for his visits to the site, which Palestinian officials and several regional governments describe as inflammatory. His latest entry comes amid heightened unrest in the West Bank and ongoing international concern over settlement expansion policies.
Just days earlier, Israeli authorities approved the establishment of dozens of new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move widely condemned by Palestinian leadership and criticized by international observers as a further obstacle to peace efforts. Israeli media reported that the cabinet authorized the creation of 34 new settlement outposts, intensifying already strained conditions in the territory.
Palestinian groups have warned that continued incursions into the Al-Aqsa compound could lead to wider unrest, particularly during periods of heightened political and military tension across the region. Religious leaders in Jerusalem also called for restraint, urging all parties to avoid actions that could inflame public sentiment.
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International reactions are expected as diplomatic channels monitor developments closely. Analysts say repeated visits by high-profile Israeli officials to the site risk further destabilizing an already volatile situation, especially given the broader context of conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.
Despite criticism, Israeli officials maintain that visits to the site are legal under Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem and part of what they describe as freedom of access to holy places. However, this position remains strongly disputed by Palestinian authorities and much of the international community.
The situation at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound remains highly sensitive, with fears that continued provocations or clashes could trigger wider regional consequences.
