The Al-Aqsa Mosque Crisis
Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a prominent figure from the far-right, sparked condemnation from Palestinians after entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as Al-Haram al-Sharif to Muslims and the Temple Mount to Jews, and asserting Israeli authority over the site. This visit followed recent incidents where groups of Jewish youths clashed with Palestinians and expressed racist sentiments during the annual far-right "flag march" in the Old City. These clashes in turn led to violent reactions from Israeli riot police, who raided the Temple Mount, threw stun grenades and arrested at least 400 Palestinians. Moreover, these clashes also triggered a wave of rocket attacks from Hamas and retaliatory airstrikes from Israel.
The "flag march" takes place on "Jerusalem Day", commemorating the 1967 capture and annexation of East Jerusalem—a move deemed illegal under international law. In previous years, the event has led to violence as far-right Israelis engaged in provocative actions. These actions included shouting offensive slogans, insulting Palestinians, and even attacking them and journalists. Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound comes shortly after heightened tensions surrounding Al-Aqsa. The Al-Aqsa clashes in April occurred amidst heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, coinciding with the overlapping observances of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Jewish Passover, and the Christian Easter Week. Hamas, which governs Gaza, has repeatedly warned against perceived Jewish encroachments on the site, which is under Jordanian custodianship according to a longstanding "status quo" arrangement aimed at maintaining stability. Ben-Gvir, who has made multiple visits to the compound and asserted control.
However, the move, which had previously heightened tensions and already been condemned by the international community, is likely to strain the already tenuous ceasefire that was recently negotiated and came into effect on May 13. In particular, the United States expressed concern over Ben-Gvir's provocative visit and accompanying inflammatory rhetoric. The US emphasised that the sanctity of this sacred space should be respected and not exploited for political purposes. Moreover, the US also expressed concern over the chief of the Israeli military's Central Command's decision to allow Israeli settlers to settle in Israel’s West Bank outposts.
According to the status quo, non-Muslims are permitted to visit the site within the Old City but are not allowed to pray there. However, an increasing number of Jewish visitors have been defying this prohibition more openly, causing frustration among Palestinians who perceive it as a provocation and fear Israel's intentions to seize control of the site.
The rise in ultranationalist Jewish individuals entering the compound and frequent incursions by Israeli security forces, including into the prayer hall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, has fueled Palestinian anger. A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remarked that Ben-Gvir's "incursion at an early hour, like thieves, into the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards will not change the reality and will not impose Israeli sovereignty over it." Hamas denounced the "savage assault" on the mosque and called on Palestinians to intensify their visits and protect it against attempts to "defile" and make it Jewish.
Israel captured the Old City of Jerusalem, encompassing the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the adjacent Western Wall, a significant Jewish place of prayer, during the 1967 Middle Eastern war. Israel subsequently annexed East Jerusalem, a move not recognized by the international community, and regards the entire city as its eternal and undivided capital. Palestinians aspire for East Jerusalem to become the capital of a future state.