Ben Gvir Visit to Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif Draws Jordanian Condemnation
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the Esplanade des Mosques in Jerusalem this morning, a move swiftly denounced by Jordan as ”an unacceptable provocation.” The Jordanian foreign Ministry called the visit a “flagrant violation of the legal and past status of the sacred site,a desecration of its sanctuary,a dangerous escalation.”
The visit, reported by Palestinian news agency WAFA, occurred during the Jewish festival of Sukkot and the day following a prisoner and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas. Ben Gvir previously visited the site last week amidst ongoing negotiations to end the Gaza war.
The Esplanade, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, is a highly sensitive religious site. It houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, and is built on the ruins of the Second Jewish Temple. While Jewish law generally prohibits visiting the site due to its sanctity,Ben Gvir has repeatedly done so – this being at least his twelfth visit since late 2022 - to assert Israeli sovereignty over the area.
These visits have consistently sparked outrage and are cited by Hamas as justification for actions against Israel, including the October 7th attack that initiated the current conflict.A status quo agreement established after Israel’s 1967 capture of East Jerusalem allows non-Muslims limited access to the Esplanade, prohibiting prayer; however, this rule is increasingly challenged.
In separate news, Israel announced it has handed over the remains of 45 Palestinians to authorities. Hamas continues to hold the bodies of 24 Israeli hostages, according to Israeli officials.
