4,288 Israelis Enter Al-Aqsa With Ben-Gvir on Tisha B’Av as Prayer Ban Faces New Breach
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 23
4,288 Israelis Enter Al-Aqsa With Ben-Gvir on Tisha B’Av as Prayer Ban Faces New Breach
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 23
Summary
4,288 Israelis had entered the Al-Aqsa compound by Thursday, Palestinian officials said, with numbers projected to approach 5,000 in what they described as one of the year’s largest incursions.
Itamar Ben-Gvir joined the visit under heavy police protection on Tisha B’Av, while Israeli media said police allowed more than 1,000 Jews to pray at the site despite the long-standing ban on non-Muslim prayer there.
Israeli forces tightened access across East Jerusalem and at mosque gates, Palestinian officials said, barring many worshippers and students and assaulting several people as settlers performed prostrations, singing and prayers inside the compound.
Jordan, the Palestinian presidency and Hamas condemned the move as a dangerous escalation and a breach of the site’s historical and legal status quo, warning it could fuel further confrontations ahead of Friday prayers.
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Temple Mount on the Brink: How the July 2026 Crisis Shattered the Status Quo and Threatens Regional Stability
Overview
On July 23, 2026, more than 1,000 Jewish worshippers, including Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Temple Mount compound, sharply escalating tensions at the site. This high-profile visit led to immediate condemnation from both Jordan and Palestinian officials. The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs called the event a dangerous escalation, claiming it aimed to alter the historical and legal status quo. They urged the international community to pressure Israel to stop these actions. These developments highlight how recent events have challenged the delicate balance at one of the world's most sensitive religious sites.