Far-right Israeli Security Minister Ben-Gvir sparked widespread outrage after making incendiary comments about building a Jewish synagogue at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.

Al-Aqsa is Islam’s third holiest site after Makkah and Madinah and is seen as a symbol of Palestinian identity.

“If I could do anything I wanted, I would put an Israeli flag on the site,” Ben Gvir said in an interview.

Asked if he would build a synagogue on the site if he could, the far-right Israeli minister replied “Yes, Yes”.

The comments come less than two weeks after Ben-Gvir visited the compound with extremist supporters and openly prayed in the area, defying longstanding rules. The minister has a history of gatecrashing the site, often accompanied by illegal settlers.

Under current regulations, non-Muslims can visit the compound at specific times but are not allowed to pray or display religious symbols.

Jordan, custodian of Jerusalem’s Muslim holy sites including Al Aqsa, condemned Ben-Gvir’s statements as “a violation of international law and an unacceptable incitement that requires a clear international position to condemn and confront it.”

Egypt warned the comments complicate the situation in the Occupied Palestinian territories and hinder Gaza ceasefire efforts, while Saudi Arabia accused Ben-Gvir of making “extremist and inflammatory statements.”

The movement to build a “Third Temple” on Al-Aqsa

The movement to build a “Third Temple” on Al-Aqsa, once considered fringe, is gaining traction in Israel. Many Palestinians draw parallels with what happened in Hebron and the partitioning of the Ibrahimi Mosque.

The Muslim Council of Elders, which consists of Muslim leaders from across the world, condemned Ben-Gvir’s statement as a “blatant provocation” and violation of international law.

Sunni Islam’s oldest seat of learning also strongly condemned the comments. 

Al Azhar said these “provocative statements are issued only by persons with an extremist mentality that does not respect religions, the sanctities of others, or international laws and conventions.”

It added: “Al-Azhar calls on the governments of the Muslim ‎world to take serious and strict positions against these ‎irresponsible and repeated statements by this Zionist official ‎and other extremists who have become accustomed to ‎storming the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and inciting violence ‎and terrorism against innocent Palestinians.”

Ben-Gvir’s stance has drawn criticism from some Orthodox Jews. These groups believe that the Al-Aqsa compound is too sacred for Jewish entry, considering it forbidden due to its extreme holiness.

The controversy has also sparked political discord in Israel. Several Israeli officials publicly rebuked Ben-Gvir for his comments. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement that said “there is no change” to the current policy.