DOHA / JERUSALEM - Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir made a provocative visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a sensitive site in East Jerusalem, on Tuesday, sparking widespread condemnation. In video footage released by his office, Ben-Gvir is seen accompanied by far-right supporters, walking around the compound and chanting, "The people of Israel live!" He was joined by Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Israel's minister for the development of the Negev and Galilee.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday strongly condemned the visit by two Israeli ministers to Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a sensitive site in East Jerusalem, as "provocative" and "a flagrant violation of international law."
"The repeated attempts to undermine the religious and historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque are not only an attack on the Palestinians but on millions of Muslims around the world," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry warned that these violations could impact ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and urged the international community to take urgent action to stop these attacks.
READ MORE: Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli minister's visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denied there would be any change to rules prohibiting Jews from praying at the site, which is holy to Muslims as well. He also issued a rebuke to Ben-Gvir, head of one of the nationalist religious parties in the ruling coalition.
In Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement blasting Ben-Gvir's visit to the site.
"This new provocation is unacceptable. France calls on the Israeli government to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the historic status quo of the holy places in Jerusalem," the French foreign ministry said in a statement.
The row with Ben-Gvir was the second time this week that Netanyahu has clashed with one of his senior ministers, following a sharp reprimand issued to Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday over the aims of the Gaza war.
The spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced Ben-Gvir's visit as a "provocation" and called on the U.S. to intervene "if it wants to prevent the region from exploding in an uncontrollable manner".
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In video footage released by his office, Ben-Gvir is seen accompanied by far-right supporters, walking around the compound and chanting, "The people of Israel live!"
Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that about 1,500 right-wing activists accompanied Ben-Gvir during the visit.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound holds sacred significance for both Muslims and Jews and has long been a flashpoint for deadly violence between the two sides.
Under the status quo, non-Muslim worshippers may visit the site in the heart of the Old City but are not allowed to pray there.
Ben-Gvir has clashed repeatedly with other ministers over his calls to allow prayer at the compound, which has helped trigger repeated conflicts with the Palestinians over the years, including a 10-day war with Hamas in 2021.
Moshe Gafni, head of United Torah Judaism, one of the religious parties in the government, criticized Ben-Gvir's visit to the compound, which many Orthodox Jews believe is too sacred a place for Jews to enter.
READ MORE: Palestinian official rejects change in Al-Aqsa status quo
"The damage it causes to the Jewish people is unbearable, and it also causes unfounded hatred on the day of the destruction of the Temple," he said in a statement.
Jordan, the custodian of the compound, condemned the visit. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry described the actions of the two senior officials as a "blatant violation of international law and the historical and legal status in Jerusalem and the holy sites."
In a statement, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit condemned in the strongest terms the visit, saying that "those hardliners push the situation to the brink and deliberately provoke sentiments of millions of Muslims worldwide."
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "the Israeli irresponsible behaviors violate the international laws and the existing historical and legal condition in Al-Aqsa."
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound holds sacred significance for both Muslims and Jews and has long been a flashpoint for deadly violence between the two sides.
Under the status quo, non-Muslim worshippers may visit the site in the heart of the Old City but are not allowed to pray there.
With Reuters inputs
