Gaza Ceasefire Talks Intensify as Trump Advisers Join Negotiations Amidst Rising Tensions at Holy Site
Cairo, Egypt – Ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending teh conflict in Gaza are gaining momentum with the arrival of key advisors from former US president Donald trump, as tensions escalate following a visit by Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif in occupied East Jerusalem. The move has drawn swift condemnation from Palestinian and Arab leaders, threatening to further complicate delicate diplomatic efforts.
The timing of Ben Gvir’s visit – two years after a previous instance he cited as a “victory” – coincides with renewed discussions surrounding a ceasefire plan initially proposed under the Trump administration. Negotiators are currently meeting in Egypt, seeking to bridge the gap between Israel and hamas. Ben Gvir stated, “Here on the Temple Mount, there is victory; in every house in Gaza there is a picture of the Temple Mount, and today, two years on, we are victorious on the Temple Mount.”
The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry denounced ben Gvir’s actions as an attempt to “inflame the region” and ”sabotage” the ongoing ceasefire talks. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry echoed these concerns, issuing a statement on social media that “renews its strongest denunciation of the continued assaults on the sanctity of the al-Aqsa Mosque.” Jordan’s foreign ministry labeled the visit a “raid,” characterizing it as a “blatant breach of international law and international humanitarian law, a condemned escalation and an unacceptable provocation.”
The Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif complex holds immense religious meaning,serving as the holiest site in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam. While anyone can visit the site, a long-standing “status quo agreement” – in place since Israel captured the Old City of Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967 – restricts prayer to Muslims only. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state, adding another layer of political sensitivity to the situation.
