On Thursday, Israel’s far-right minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, joined thousands of Jewish extremists who stormed Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site during the Jewish holy day of Tisha B’Av.
How the Al-Aqsa Compound Storming Unfolded
The incident took place at the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. According to the Islamic Waqf Department, which officially manages the compound, 3,228 Israelis entered the area during the morning period alone, with thousands more expected in the afternoon, as reported by Al Jazeera. Israelis prayed close to al-Aqsa mosque and the seventh-century Dome of the Rock shrine, while Likud lawmaker Amit Halevi joined a group that raised flags and sang the national anthem, according to Haaretz.
Overnight, thousands of people marched through areas of old Jerusalem near the compound. Haaretz reported that some individuals in the crowd attacked Palestinians and vandalised a Muslim cemetery near the Lions’ Gate entrance, resulting in police arresting 16 Jewish suspects over the violence.
Did You Know? Thursday’s date marked Tisha B’Av, the Jewish holy day commemorating the destruction of the 10th-century BC first temple and the second temple at the very same site, the latter of which was destroyed by the Romans in AD70.
Regional Repercussions and International Condemnation
The events drew sharp rebukes from regional governments and Palestinian officials. In an official statement, the Palestinian ministry of religious endowments and affairs warned that “these provocative practices, emanating from the highest political levels of the occupying government, seek to ignite a religious war throughout the entire region.” The Jordanian foreign ministry also strongly condemned the storming, calling on the international community to take a firm stance against ongoing violations of Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem.
Domestically, the Israeli activist group Peace Now posted on X that the prayers outside al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock constituted a “dangerous provocation” by extremists violating the fragile status quo that bars non-Muslim prayer at the site. Ben-Gvir defended the actions on social media, writing that “we see enormous progress here” and that Jews praying at the compound “feel like the owners.” He has previously stated intentions to raise the Israeli flag at the compound and build a synagogue there.
Political Backing and Historical Context
Under the fragile, decades-old status quo agreement, non-Muslim prayer is strictly banned at the compound. However, Ben-Gvir has steadily eroded these rules through inflammatory visits and unilateral policy adjustments, including permitting visitors to bring prayers and printed religious material to the site. In January, he installed an ideological ally as the head of the Jerusalem police force to smooth the path toward greater changes.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly backed Jewish prayer at the site earlier this year, claiming that the policy changes pushed by Ben-Gvir were coordinated with him. Despite effectively dismantling a key pillar of the status quo agreement, Netanyahu insisted that Israel had not violated the arrangement.
Historically, alterations to the status quo have triggered widespread conflict. A visit in 2000 by then-Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon ignited the five-year-long second Palestinian intifada. More recently, Hamas named its October 2023 attack on Israel—which killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the ongoing Gaza war—the “al-Aqsa flood,” citing Israeli violations at the Jerusalem mosque as the direct provocation.
What May Happen Next
Meanwhile, Israeli security forces face heightened vigilance to manage anticipated afternoon crowds at the compound and prevent further clashes in East Jerusalem.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the status quo at the Jerusalem holy site?
The status quo is a fragile, decades-old agreement governing the compound—known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount—which expressly bans non-Muslim prayer.
How many people entered the compound during the incident?
According to the Islamic Waqf Department and Al Jazeera, 3,228 Israelis entered the compound during the morning period on Thursday, with thousands more expected later in the day.
What role has Itamar Ben-Gvir played in changing the site’s rules?
As Israel’s minister of national security, Ben-Gvir has eroded the status quo through inflammatory visits, unilateral rule changes that allow Jewish visitors to bring prayers and printed religious material, and the installation of an ideological ally as the head of the Jerusalem police force.
How will regional actors respond to the shifting administrative rules at Jerusalem’s holy sites?