Israeli minister Ben Gvir, settlers storm Al-Aqsa compound

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visits the Al-Aqsa compound during Jerusalem鈥檚 Day, in Jerusalem鈥檚 Old City May 26, 2025. (Reuters)
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  • More than 900 extremist Jewish settlers, accompanied by Israeli police, storm holy site
  • Large groups of young Israeli Jews marched shouting 鈥淒eath to Arabs鈥� and 鈥淢ay your village burn鈥�

DUBAI: Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Monday stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during controversial 鈥淛erusalem Day鈥� celebrations marking Israel鈥檚 1967 capture of East Jerusalem 鈥� a move that further heightened tensions in the occupied city.

His visit coincided with the entry of more than 900 extremist Jewish settlers, accompanied by Israeli police, into the courtyards of the sacred site 鈥� known to Jews as the Temple Mount 鈥� according to the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Department.

The group included Knesset members and rabbis who performed what the Waqf described as 鈥減rovocative Talmudic rituals鈥� throughout the compound. In one incident, a settler raised an Israeli flag and danced in the eastern section of Al-Aqsa, a move viewed by Palestinians as a violation of the site's fragile status quo, which prohibits non-Muslim prayer.

The Waqf also reported that settlers attempted to bring Torah scrolls through the Mughrabi Gate, while hundreds more gathered in Al-Buraq Square and near Qattanin Gate to perform religious rituals and dances.

Meanwhile, Israeli extremist Knesset member Moshe Feiglin was reportedly planning to visit the site later in the day after awarding a medal to a retired Israeli soldier who took part in the 1967 occupation of Jerusalem.

Tensions escalated further in the surrounding areas as large groups of young Israeli Jews 鈥� many wrapped in flags and chanting nationalist slogans 鈥� marched through Muslim neighborhoods of the Old City. Some were heard shouting 鈥淒eath to Arabs鈥� and 鈥淢ay your village burn鈥� as they moved through the narrow alleyways, where Palestinian shops had closed early in anticipation of violence.

Volunteers from the pro-peace groups Standing Together and Free Jerusalem attempted to position themselves between the marchers and Palestinian residents to de-escalate tensions. Despite their efforts, confrontations flared. 鈥淭his is our home, this is our state,鈥� one protester shouted at a Palestinian woman. 鈥淕o away from here!鈥� she replied, in Hebrew.

Police deployed heavily throughout the area, erecting iron barriers at key entry points including Damascus Gate, and heavily restricting Palestinian access. At one point, an Israeli officer was seen raising his arms in celebration and embracing a marcher 鈥� a moment that underscored the increasingly blurred lines between law enforcement and nationalist demonstrators.

The annual 鈥淔lag March,鈥� expected to pass through densely populated Palestinian areas such as Al-Wad Street and Damascus Gate, has long been viewed as a flashpoint for violence, with settler provocations and harassment of Muslim worshippers reportedly intensifying in recent days.