Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards in Jerusalem on Tuesday on the occasion of what is known as the "anniversary of the destruction of the Temple."
Videos on social media showed settlers performing Talmudic rituals and prayers in the Al-Aqsa courtyards.
The Palestinian presidency condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and held the occupation responsible for the dangerous provocations in the mosque.
Ben Gvir's speech
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stressed from inside Al-Aqsa Mosque that his policy is to allow Jews to pray at the site.
Ben Gvir said in a video message: "We are on the ninth of Av, the Temple Mount, coming to commemorate the destruction of the Temple."
He added: "But we must say this honestly: There is very great progress here in governance and sovereignty. As I said, our policy is to enable prayer."
According to the Times of Israel website, the video shows Jews praying loudly next to him, and the footage also shows Jews prostrating before him.
Netanyahu's response
In response to Ben Gvir's statement, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that "policymaking on the Temple Mount is directly under the government and its leader."
He added in a statement that: "There is no special policy for any minister on the Temple Mount, neither for the Minister of National Security nor for any other minister. This has always been the case in all Israeli governments."
He continued: "The event that took place this morning on the Temple Mount is an exception to the status quo. Israel's policy has not changed."
Jordanian-Egyptian condemnation
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry condemned "the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by two extremist ministers from the Israeli government and members of the Knesset today under the protection of the Israeli police."
It added that this comes "in conjunction with the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli extremists and their provocative practices and the imposition of restrictions on the entry of worshipers to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, in a blatant violation of international law and the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites."
She added that this "reflects the insistence of the Israeli government and its extremist members to disregard international laws and Israel's obligations as an occupying power."
In turn, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the storming of the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque by two Israeli ministers, members of the Israeli Knesset, hundreds of Israeli settlers and extremists, and the raising of the Israeli flag inside it, under the protection of the Israeli police, and in conjunction with preventing Palestinian worshipers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Egypt stressed that "these irresponsible and provocative actions constitute a violation of international law and the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem, and their continued repetition and frequency reflect a systematic policy being implemented on the ground, which requires working to stop its manifestations immediately, and committing to preserving the legal status quo."
Egypt stressed the need for the international community to play an active role in confronting these violations that aim to inflame emotions and thwart efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, stressing Egypt's commitment to seeking a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.
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