Turkey strongly condemned the actions of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who on Sunday led a group of believers to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, violating a long-standing agreement that prohibits Jewish worship at this site, BTA reports.
During his visit to the Temple Mount (known among Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary), Ben-Gvir not only prayed publicly, but also called for the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip. His actions sparked a wave of outrage in the region and were widely interpreted as a provocation, according to media outlets such as CNN and AFP.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque by some Israeli ministers, accompanied by Israeli settlers and guarded by the police“, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. “Preserving the security of Al-Aqsa and the sacred nature of Jerusalem is not only a regional responsibility, but a moral duty to the conscience of humanity“, the statement added.
Jewish religious rituals at the complex are prohibited under an agreement between Israel and Jordan, which is the internationally recognized custodian of the site.
A sharp reaction also followed from the Communications Directorate of the Turkish presidency. Its director, Burhanettin Duran, said the attack on Al-Aqsa was a "stage of genocide and a dirty war" waged by the Israeli government. In a post on the social network X, he stressed that Jerusalem belongs to all Abrahamic religions, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is sacred not only to Muslims but also part of the common cultural heritage of humanity.
“We will always protect the inviolability of Al-Aqsa and support our Palestinian brothers and sisters”, Duran added.
Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) also reacted sharply. The party's deputy chairman and spokesman, Ömer Çelik, said:
“The attack on Al-Aqsa is an attack on all human values. Netanyahu's government is a threat to believers of all religions. All of humanity must confront this threat.“