Ben Gvir raids Al-Aqsa as Israel plans to reopen mosque to settler incursions
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir raided Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday while Muslims remain barred, as police plan to reopen the site to allow settlers to resume daily incursions.
Israeli media reported that the police, overseen by Ben Gvir, prepared a plan to admit up to 150 Israelis or Muslims at a time, which has drawn widespread criticism from Palestinian bodies.
Al-Quds International Institution said the plan “deepens the division of Al-Aqsa Mosque” between Muslims and Jews.
“It uses the war to transform Al-Aqsa into a shared Jewish-Islamic holy site as a prelude to its complete Judaization,” the foundation said in a statement on Monday.
It added that the move would place Ben Gvir in effective control of the mosque’s affairs, sidelining the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, which holds recognised exclusive administrative authority, including control over access.
Read more: Ben Gvir raids Al-Aqsa as Israel plans to reopen mosque to settler incursions