Ben-Gvir ascends Temple Mount to pray for soldiers and hostages

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ascended the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on Thursday morning, claiming in an X/Twitter post to have made the trip to pray for Israel’s soldiers and the return of the hostages held in Hamas captivity. 

“I went up to our holy place [the Temple Mount] this morning to pray for the safety of our soldiers, for the speedy return of all those kidnapped, and for complete victory [in the war] with God’s help,” Ben-Gvir wrote in the post.

עליתי הבוקר למקום מקדשנו, לתפילה לשלום חיילנו, להחזרת כל החטופים במהרה ולניצחון המוחלט בעזרת השם. pic.twitter.com/uSBQCk64aZ

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) December 26, 2024

The Prime Minister’s Office subsequently released a statement in response to the visit, saying that the “status quo on the Temple Mount has not changed.”

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the visit, calling it a “provocative, unacceptable, and denounced act,” in an official statement posted to X on the matter.

دانت وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين إقدام وزير الأمن القومي الإسرائيلي المتطرف، صباح اليوم، على اقتحام المسجد الأقصى المبارك/ الحرم القدسي الشريف تحت حماية شرطة الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، خطوة استفزازية مرفوضة ومدانة وانتهاكاً للوضع التاريخي والقانوني القائم في المسجد الأقصى المبارك/… pic.twitter.com/Pquys8pyHE

— وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين الأردنية (@ForeignMinistry) December 26, 2024

Ben-Gvir’s repeated visits to the Temple Mount in the past have received much criticism, along with his statements regarding the matter.

In August, Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount on the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av and told Army Radio that his policy was to allow Jews to pray at the holy site. 

Controversial visits 

Ben-Gvir also said at the time, “If I could do what I wanted, a synagogue would also be established on the Temple Mount.”

Former defense minister Yoav Gallant responded strongly to Ben-Gvir’s comments at the time, saying, “Challenging the status quo on the Temple Mount is a dangerous, unnecessary, and irresponsible act. Ben-Gvir’s actions endanger the national security of the State of Israel and its international status.

JPost