Türkiye condemns Ben-Gvir's Al-Aqsa storming as 'unacceptable provocation'

Türkiye on Tuesday strongly condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, calling it an unacceptable provocation against the historical and legal identity of one of Islam's holiest sites. In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said: "We strongly condemn the incursion by an Israeli minister into Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Violations and provocations

The ministry said it deemed unacceptable the violations and provocations by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government targeting the historical and legal identity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, a holy site exclusively belonging to Muslims. The statement also underlined that ensuring Al-Aqsa remains open for Muslim worship and lifting all restrictions that obstruct freedom of worship at holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem are a shared responsibility of the international community.

Ben-Gvir's incursion

On Monday, far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Ben-Gvir, who has a history of provocative visits to the holy site, has been a key figure in pushing for the death penalty law for Palestinian prisoners, which passed the Knesset last week.

Ongoing closures

Israeli authorities kept Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre closed for the 38th consecutive day, citing the "state of emergency" declared since the start of the US-Israeli attack on Iran on Feb. 28. The closures have drawn international condemnation, with Jordan calling it a "crime against religious freedom" and the EU warning of a "clear step backwards" on human rights.