Israeli Right Wing Minister Ben-Gvir Returns to Al-Aqsa Compound, Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Violation

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the actions of the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who returned to provoke by visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex.

The right-wing minister visited the mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday, according to the Palestinian news agency, amid a 38-day closure imposed by the Israeli authorities.

In a brief statement, the Directorate of Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem said: "Ben-Gvir stormed the mosque complex through the Mughrabi Gate towards Bab al-Silsila (Chain Gate)," quoted from Anadolu (7/4).

Such raids by Ben-Gvir are usually carried out without prior public announcement. Israeli ministers are only allowed to enter the Al-Aqsa compound with the prior approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

The extremist minister continues to carry out these provocations despite having been repeatedly condemned by Arab, Islamic, and international countries.

Separately, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned Ben-Gvir's raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strong condemnation and disapproval of the blatant invasion of the noble Al-Aqsa Mosque complex carried out by a minister in the Israeli occupation government under the protection of the occupation forces," read a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, stressing that Riyadh rejects any continuation of violations of international law, attacks on the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and provocations against the feelings of Muslims around the world, reported Al Arabiya.

The statement called on the international community to stop any violations or attacks against the Palestinian people or holy historic sites in "occupied Palestine" and to guarantee respect for the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli authorities have continued to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for 38 consecutive days, citing security concerns.

However, Palestinians say Israel is using the closure to tighten its control over the mosque complex and impose further restrictions on Muslim worshippers.

According to the local government, last Friday marked the ninth time since 1967 that Israel closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday. The mosque's courtyard is empty of worshippers except for a small number of Islamic Waqf employees, while last Friday marked the fifth consecutive week of closure.

Israeli police announced last Monday that they would only allow "limited prayers" in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after several European countries criticized the authorities for preventing the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Holy Land Guard Pastor Francesco Patton from attending the Palm Sunday celebrations.

Since February 28, Israel has closed both holy sites under the pretext of preventing gatherings amid the US-Israeli war with Iran.