Media: Israeli minister committs provocation against Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, accompanied by Israeli police, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on the morning of July 18.

Ben-Gvir, standing in front of the Dome of the Rock, posted a video message on social media stating he came "to the most important place for Israel to pray for the return of Israeli captives (from Gaza) without any concessions", Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media. 

He also expressed his hope that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would "move towards victory without yielding to pressure and by increasing military efforts."

Meanwhile, Israeli police closed the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing Palestinians and Muslims from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound, an Islamic holy site.

Israeli media noted that Ben-Gvir's actions included members of the Temple Movement, which supports the Judaisation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.