Worldwide Condemnation of Provocations by Far-right Israeli Minister at Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir previously visited Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound on July 17 © - / AFP/File
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir previously visited Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound on July 17 © - / AFP/File
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Worldwide Condemnation of Provocations by Far-right Israeli Minister at Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir previously visited Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound on July 17 © - / AFP/File
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir previously visited Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound on July 17 © - / AFP/File

The United Nations and several countries on Tuesday denounced Israel's far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir for leading prayers at the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound, calling the move "unduly provocative."

"We are against any efforts to change the status quo within the holy sites," said deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

"Al-Aqsa mosque, like the other holy sites in Jerusalem, should be left to themselves and should be controlled by the existing religious authorities for the sites. This sort of behavior is unhelpful and it is unduly provocative."

Itamar Ben Gvir, one of the far-right ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, led hundreds of Israelis into the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Tuesday to mark a Jewish holiday.

The visit defied rules in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem that allow Jews and other non-Muslims to visit the mosque compound but not to pray or display religious symbols.

The mosque is Islam's third holiest site but the compound also is Judaism's holiest place, revered as the site of the ancient temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

The United States also criticized the move, affirming that it stands "firmly for preservation of the historic status quo with respect to the holy sites of Jerusalem and any unilateral action, which this would be..., that jeopardizes such a status quo is unacceptable," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

"Not only is it unacceptable, it detracts from what we think is a vital time, as we are working to get this ceasefire deal across the finish line," he said, referring to a US-led push for talks Thursday to stop the Israel-Hamas war, according to AFP.

France's foreign ministry condemned the Israeli minister calling his action as an unacceptable "provocation".

Urging Israel to respect the status quo at Islam's third-holiest site -- also Judaism's holiest place -- the ministry statement said: "This new provocation is unacceptable."

Also, the EU condemned what it described as "provocations" by Ben Gvir.

"The EU strongly condemns the provocations by Israeli Min. Ben Gvir who, during his visit to the Holy Sites, advocated for the violation of the status quo," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote on X.

On Tuesday morning, Ben Gvir and some 2,250 other Israelis walked through the compound in groups, singing Jewish hymns, under the protection of Israeli police, an official from the Waqf, the Jordanian body that is custodian of the site, told AFP.

Ben Gvir, who has often defied the Israeli government's longstanding ban on Jewish prayer at the mosque compound, vowed to "defeat Hamas" in Gaza in a video he filmed during his visit.

The latest incident comes as the EU and other international powers are trying to calm tensions in the region as Iran warns of retaliation against Israel after the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran.



Turkish Court Rejects Appeal Seeking Release of Key Erdogan Rival from Jail

Supporters of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, protest outside his prison during his first hearing over accusations leveled against him, as Turkish gendarmerie banned them to approach to the Marmara Prison, formerly Silivri Prison, and Courthouse Complex in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Supporters of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, protest outside his prison during his first hearing over accusations leveled against him, as Turkish gendarmerie banned them to approach to the Marmara Prison, formerly Silivri Prison, and Courthouse Complex in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)
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Turkish Court Rejects Appeal Seeking Release of Key Erdogan Rival from Jail

Supporters of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, protest outside his prison during his first hearing over accusations leveled against him, as Turkish gendarmerie banned them to approach to the Marmara Prison, formerly Silivri Prison, and Courthouse Complex in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Supporters of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, protest outside his prison during his first hearing over accusations leveled against him, as Turkish gendarmerie banned them to approach to the Marmara Prison, formerly Silivri Prison, and Courthouse Complex in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)

Judicial officials on Monday rejected an appeal seeking the release of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from jail pending the outcome of his corruption trial, the country's state-run news agency reported.

Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and a key challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than two-decade rule, was detained on March 19 and formally jailed on corruption charges four days later.

His arrest is widely perceived to be politically motivated, aiming to sideline a major rival ahead of presidential elections, which currently are scheduled for 2028 but could take place earlier.

The mayor’s arrest and subsequent removal from office has triggered the largest wave of anti-government protests in Türkiye in over a decade. The government insists that the judiciary operates independently and without political interference.

On Monday, the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance ruled to reject the appeals made by Imamoglu’s lawyers, deciding that his detention would continue, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Lawyers representing the mayor had argued that the investigation into Imamoglu was allegedly conducted in violation of legal standards. They are expected to renew the appeals request.

The court also rejected appeals requests for Murat Ongun — the chairman of a media company affiliated with the Istanbul municipality and close Imamoglu aide — and other suspects who were arrested on corruption charges alongside the mayor, the agency said.

A lawyer representing Imamoglu could not confirm the report, saying the decision had not been formally communicated to him.