National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ascended the Temple Mount on Wednesday, during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
He stated that he was there to pray for Israel’s victory in the war, the destruction of Hamas, and the return of the hostages.
“We are the owners of the Temple Mount,” Ben-Gvir said in a video statement at the site.
“We are two years after the terrible massacre; here on the Temple Mount, there is victory. In every home in Gaza, there is a picture of the Temple Mount, and today, two years later, we are victorious on the Temple Mount,” he said.
“I only pray that our prime minister will allow a full victory also in Gaza, to destroy Hamas, with God’s help, to return the hostages, and we will achieve an absolute victory,” he said.
The visit comes during Hol Hamoed (the intermediate days of Sukkot), when there are additional prayer services.
MK Gilad Kariv (The Democrats) slammed Ben-Gvir for the visit, saying it was “designed to sabotage negotiations to release the hostages and end the war.” Ben-Gvir has expressed his firm opposition to the advancements with US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which includes reaching a deal with Hamas to release the hostages.
The Hamas terror group later condemned Ben-Gvir’s visit, calling it “an aggressive message” that reinforces the division of the site and reflects plans to “impose occupation control on it.” Ben-Gvir has made multiple trips to the Temple Mount this past year, drawing controversy from local and regional figures alike for transgressing the existing status quo.
Not Ben-Gvir's first time in Temple Mount
His last visit was in August to mark Tisha B’Av, the Jewish day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.
The status quo on the Temple Mount, established after 1967, allows Israel to oversee security while the Jordanian-backed Islamic Waqf administers the site. Non-Muslims, including Jews, may visit during limited hours but are strictly prohibited from praying there.
The status quo’s aim was to maintain religious balance and prevent conflict, though it has often been tested by political and security tensions.
During past visits, Ben-Gvir has attempted to assert that the status quo no longer exists, to which the Prime Minister’s Office has repeatedly clarified that Israel’s policy on the Temple Mount has not changed.
Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.