Israeli far-right minister joins Al-Aqsa incursion ahead of elections

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir, a leading figure of the country’s far‑right, participated in a controversial march through the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Friday, an action that Palestinian officials and several international observers described as a provocation. The incursion occurred during the final days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a period traditionally marked by heightened sensitivity at the site, and it coincided with a surge in political activity as Israel approaches national elections slated for later this year.

The minister’s presence, alongside a contingent of right‑wing activists, sparked clashes with worshippers and prompted a temporary suspension of access to the compound for both Muslims and Jews. Israeli police intervened to disperse the crowd, resulting in dozens of arrests and a number of injuries reported on both sides. Palestinian Authority leaders condemned the event as an attempt to alter the status quo at the holy site, while Israel’s government defended the march as an exercise of religious freedom. The episode has intensified already strained Israeli‑Palestinian relations and is expected to influence the political discourse ahead of the upcoming elections, with security and religious‑site policies likely to feature prominently in campaign debates.