Jordan Condemns Far-Right Israeli Minister’s Visit to Al-Aqsa Compound

By Dler Mohammed

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Jordan strongly condemned the visit by far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Monday, which coincided with celebrations marking Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem in 1967, according to AFP.

In an official statement, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, which serves as the custodian of the Al-Aqsa site, denounced Ben Gvir’s actions as extremist and provocative. “The practices of this extremist minister and his continued incursions into the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque... do not negate the fact that east Jerusalem is an occupied city over which Israel has no sovereignty,” the statement said.

The visit by Ben Gvir, known for his hardline nationalist views, further heightened tensions amid ongoing disputes over Jerusalem’s status and the sacred compound, a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Jordan’s condemnation reflects its longstanding role in safeguarding the religious and historical sanctity of Al-Aqsa, underscoring the sensitive nature of the site for Muslims worldwide.

Full official statement from Jordan’s Foreign Ministry (translated from Arabic):

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemns the storming of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Qudsi Al-Sharif by the extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, along with other members of the government and Knesset, leading a large group of extremist settlers. This coincided with the so-called Flag March and was accompanied by provocative and unacceptable practices, representing a blatant violation of the existing historical and legal status and Israel’s commitments as the occupying power."

"The Ministry emphasized that the practices of this extremist minister and his continuous incursions into the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Qudsi Al-Sharif do not negate the fact that East Jerusalem is an occupied city over which Israel has no sovereignty."

"The Ministry Spokesperson, Ambassador Dr. Sufian Al-Qudah, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s absolute rejection and strong condemnation of this storming by the extremist minister Ben Gvir, government ministers, Knesset members, and extremist settlers, as well as the facilitation by the occupation police of repeated incursions into the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Qudsi Al-Sharif. This constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law and an attempt to impose new facts on the Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Qudsi Al-Sharif, including attempts to temporally and spatially divide it."

"These actions also reflect reckless and unacceptable incitement in light of Israel’s expanded war on the Gaza Strip and its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank."

"Ambassador Al-Qudah warned of the consequences and risks of continuing these violations, calling on Israel, as the occupying power, to stop all provocative actions by the extremist minister Ben Gvir and extremist settlers, which are a continuation of the Israeli government’s extremist policy aimed at further escalating the situation in the West Bank and incursions into Palestinian cities."

"He reiterated that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque, covering an area of 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the administration of Jerusalem’s Islamic Endowments and the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Holy Sites, is the sole legal authority responsible for managing the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Qudsi Al-Sharif and regulating entry into it."

دانت وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين بأشدّ العبارات، اقتحام وزير الأمن القومي الإسرائيلي المتطرف إيتمار بن غفير و غيره من أعضاء الحكومة والكنيست على رأس مجموعة كبيرة من المستوطنين المتطرفين، المسجد الأقصى المبارك/ الحرم القدسي الشريف، تزامنًا مع ما يسمى بمسيرة الأعلام، وما رافقها… pic.twitter.com/ArxsPwXdGA

— وزارة الخارجية وشؤون المغتربين الأردنية (@ForeignMinistry) May 26, 2025