Israeli far-right Minister visits Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, visited the Al-Aqsa compound on Wednesday (October 8, 2025), as oblique negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been being held in Egypt on ending the Gaza conflict.

The go to is Mr. Ben Gvir’s eleventh as Minister to the disputed space, positioned in occupied east Jerusalem, which comprises Islam’s third-holiest website and is Judaism’s holiest place, revered as the situation of the primary and second Jewish temples.

The Palestinian Authority’s international ministry stated it strongly condemned Ben Gvir’s “repeated incursions” into the positioning, describing them as “legal and provocative practices”.

Hamas additionally condemned the go to, calling it a “deliberate provocation” that “violates the sanctity of Al-Aqsa and the emotions of Muslims worldwide.”

The Palestinian group added the go to coincided with the “painful anniversary” of lethal clashes in Jerusalem on October 8, 1990, during which a minimum of 15 Palestinians have been killed.

In a video assertion from the esplanade, Mr. Ben Gvir referred to the second anniversary of Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, that sparked two years of conflict in Gaza.

“We are two years after the horrible bloodbath — right here on the Temple Mount there may be victory,” Mr. Ben Gvir stated.

“I solely pray that our Prime Minister will permit a whole victory in Gaza as nicely — to destroy Hamas, with God’s assist to carry again the hostages,” he added.

Mr. Ben Gvir’s go to was carried out as Israel and Hamas have been partaking within the third day of oblique talks in Egypt to achieve an finish to the two-year conflict in Gaza.

The Security Minister has beforehand threatened to stop Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition authorities until Hamas is destroyed.

‘Flagrant violation’

Videos circulating on social media confirmed Mr. Ben Gvir strolling on the esplanade accompanied by a gaggle of spiritual Jews singing liturgical songs.

The Waqf, the Jordanian custodian of the positioning, stated 1,300 “extremist Jews” went into the compound Wednesday (October 8, 2025) morning.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the go to as “a flagrant violation” of the established order on the compound, an unwritten settlement which forbids non-Muslim prayer on the positioning.

Saudi Arabia additionally denounced “the continued assaults on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque,” in a Foreign Ministry assertion.

Mr. Ben Gvir’s go to additionally coincided with the second day of the Jewish vacation of Sukkot, throughout which Jews have been commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in historical occasions.

In current years, the established order understanding between Israel and Jordan has been repeatedly violated by Jewish guests, together with members of the Israeli parliament.

Mr. Ben Gvir carried out a public prayer on the flashpoint website in August, on the event of Tisha B’Av, a fasting day to commemorate the destruction of the 2 Jewish temples.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem and annexed it in 1967, in a transfer not recognised by the overwhelming majority of the worldwide neighborhood.