Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the visit by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, describing the move as a violation of the site’s historic and legal status. The Kingdom warned that repeated actions at one of Islam’s holiest sites risk further escalating tensions across the region.
The condemnation came as foreign ministers from several Arab and Muslim nations issued a joint statement criticizing what they described as escalating actions at Al-Aqsa. The countries called for respect for the historic status quo and urged the international community to take steps to prevent further provocations.
Ben-Gvir entered the compound under heavy police protection during Tisha B’Av. The visit drew widespread condemnation from Palestinian officials, Jordan, and other Muslim-majority nations, who warned that any changes to the long-standing arrangements governing the holy site could further destabilize the region.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is Islam’s third holiest site and remains one of the most sensitive religious and political sites in the world. The compound is administered by the Jordanian Islamic Waqf under a longstanding status quo that permits Muslim worship at the site while restricting non-Muslim prayer.
— Kevin Shakil