Türkiye, US, EU condemn storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by radical Israelis

A far-right Israeli minister drew condemnation from Türkiye and the global community on Tuesday by praying with thousands of Jews at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in annexed east Jerusalem, defying a ban on Jewish prayer at the flashpoint site.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has often ignored the Israeli government's longstanding ban, vowed to "defeat Hamas" in Gaza in a video he filmed during his visit.

The compound is Islam's third holiest site and a symbol of Palestinian national identity, but it is also Judaism's holiest place, revered as the site of the ancient temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

During specific hours, Jews and other non-Muslims can visit the mosque compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, but they cannot pray or display religious symbols.

The visit comes at a tense time during the 10-month Israel-Hamas war, with faltering efforts for a ceasefire and Israel bracing for threatened attacks from Iran and its proxies.

Earlier, approximately 2,250 illegal Israeli settlers, including Ben-Gvir, his fellow Otzma Yehudit party minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf, and Knesset member of the Likud party Amit Halevi, stormed into the complex to commemorate Tisha B'Av, an annual Jewish fast day that marks the occurrence of several disasters in Jewish history.

Ben-Gvir repeated his message that his policy is to allow Jewish prayer at the compound.

Israeli police also "imposed restrictions" on Muslim worshippers trying to enter the mosque.

Türkiye slams radical Israelis

The storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by hundreds of radical Israelis, including ministers, will "further escalate tensions" in the region, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

"The...