Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Tuesday, leading a group of hundreds of Israelis. The visit, which took place under heavy security protection, was marked by a public statement from Ben-Gvir asserting, 'we are the owners of the place in Al-Aqsa.'

The Al-Aqsa compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is a site of significant religious importance to both Muslims and Jews. Under long-standing status quo arrangements, non-Muslim prayer is generally restricted at the site, though visits by Israeli officials and activists frequently spark diplomatic friction and protests.

Al Jazeera reports the event as an 'incursion,' emphasizing the security presence and the provocative nature of the Minister's rhetoric. While the event proceeded without immediate reports of large-scale violence, the visit is widely viewed by regional observers as a challenge to the existing religious and political arrangements governing the site. The Israeli government has not issued a formal statement reconciling the Minister's comments with official state policy regarding the site's administration.