Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli minister of national security, visited the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem on Thursday and was greeted by Israeli military fire that claimed the life of a 14-year-old Palestinian kid in the occupied West Bank. The location, which is venerated by both Jews and Muslims, has long been a hotbed of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
A time of increased Israeli-Palestinian violence in the West Bank coincided with Ben-Gvir’s visit to the contentious hilltop complex. According to AP, there are worries that the situation may worsen and that there would be tense ties between the two sides.
Jews and Muslims both have significant religious importance for the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, and both groups have conflicting claims to the location. The violent Hamas organization launched a rare rocket from the West Bank in response to the Israeli national security minister’s visit, which was denounced by many Muslim nations.
Fares Abu Samra, 14, was murdered in the West Bank town of Qalqilya by Israeli fire, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli military said that Palestinians had fired into the air after forces were attacked with rocks and firebombs by Palestinians. Review of the situation is ongoing.
Hundreds of Jews visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, also known as the Temple Mount, for the Jewish festival of Tisha B’Av to remember the destruction of the First and Second Temples. Strong resistance has been expressed to Ben-Gvir’s arrival. He is a former West Bank settler leader and far-right activist.
The government and radicals like Ben-Gvir, according to the Jerusalem Affairs Ministry of the Palestinian Authority, might “push things toward religious war” by inciting Muslims all over the globe, the ministry said. The visit was seen by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an effort to impose Israeli control over the location.
Jordan, which has a peace accord with Israel and is the site’s custodian, voiced worry that such trips “threaten to spark new cycles of violence.” Both Saudi Arabia, which is in charge of the two holiest cities in Islam, and Turkey criticized the visit as provocative.
Jews are permitted to visit the site under long-standing agreements, but not to worship there. However, a rising number of Jewish pilgrims have been secretly praying there in recent years, which has Palestinians worried about Israel’s intentions.
Over 160 Palestinians have been murdered in the continuing violence in the West Bank this year, at least five of them were under the age of 14. The circumstance has exacerbated tensions between Israel and Palestine and lowered expectations for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
During the 1967 Middle East conflict, Israel took control of east Jerusalem, including the holy complex, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. These areas are sought after by the Palestinians in order to establish a future independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital. However, the ultranationalist and pro-West Bank settlement Israeli government has stepped up its efforts to bolster its control over these areas, raising tensions with other countries and eroding chances for peace.
