CAIRO, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Several Middle Eastern governments condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday after his visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, a site revered by both Muslims and Jews.

Jordan's Foreign Ministry labeled the visit a "dangerous escalation," asserting that it violated the "historical and legal status quo" at the site, which is managed by Jordanian religious authorities under a decades-old agreement.

The ministry accused Israel of attempting to impose a "temporal and spatial division" of the compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount while reiterating that Israel holds "no sovereignty" over it. Jordan called on the international community to take decisive action to prevent further provocations.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry also condemned the visit, describing it as a breach of international law and warning of its potential to destabilize the region. The ministry expressed concern that such actions could provoke widespread anger, further intensifying the Middle East's volatile situation and undermining global peace and security.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry characterized Ben-Gvir's visit as a "dangerous step," cautioning that it could exacerbate tensions in the region. It condemned his "storming" of Al-Aqsa and urged the international community to work toward de-escalation.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, also condemned the visit, calling it a "provocative and dangerous escalation." Hamas urged Palestinians, particularly youth in the West Bank, to escalate their resistance in defense of Palestinian land and holy sites, with a specific focus on Al-Aqsa.

Saudi Arabia, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, strongly denounced Ben-Gvir's visit as an infringement on the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The kingdom also condemned the Israeli targeting of a UN-affiliated clinic in Gaza and the ongoing targeting of relief organizations, reiterating its rejection of actions that alter the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and its sacred sites.

Reports indicated that Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa compound earlier on Wednesday, accompanied by heavy police protection. This marked his sixth visit since joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in 2022.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a frequent flashpoint for violence, is revered by Muslims as a noble sanctuary and by Jews as the site of two ancient temples.

Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the site but are prohibited from praying there under the current status quo. Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist politician, has long advocated for expanded Jewish access to the compound.

Tensions escalated at the site in April 2023, when violent confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli police resulted in 50 injuries and at least 400 arrests. These clashes followed reports that Jews planned to sacrifice a goat at the site, an act forbidden by Israeli law.

Israel annexed the eastern sector of the city, including the Old City where the compound lies, in 1967, a move that remains unrecognized by most of the international community. Enditem

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