Morocco Condemns Israeli Minister’s Controversial Visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound

Seen as a provocation, the minister’s visit comes a few days after the UN General Assembly voted a resolution against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Morocco, which voted for this resolution, and whose king is "the president of the Al-Quds Committee, calls for the preservation of the legal and historical status of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa and for limiting escalations and unilateral and provocative acts."

Many personalities around the world have condemned this inopportune visit. Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for Hamas, said that Ben Givir’s move is "a crime," before adding: "Our people will continue to defend their holy sites and the Al-Aqsa Mosque." For the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, this visit is an "unprecedented provocation".

From Jordan to the White House, via Iran and Lebanon, Ben Givir’s visit is strongly condemned. The UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Spokesman, Farhan Haq, stressed "the importance of maintaining the status quo in the holy sites," adding that the UN chief "calls on all to refrain from taking measures likely to exacerbate tensions inside and around the holy sites."

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that he is "determined to strictly maintain the status quo." This is not the first time that Itamar Ben Gvir has visited this holy site. He had already gone there as a deputy.