Islam in Jerusalem

Since the October 7 attacks and the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, no part of life in the region has been left untouched - least of all, the three great religions whose histories are rooted there.

While Israeli Jews struggle to celebrate holidays or even find common ground with one another, Palestinian Muslims and Christians are struggling to reach their holy sites at all.

Muslim worshippers walk at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, in Jerusalem's Old City, April 5, 2024.

The spokesman for Türkiye's Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ömer Çelik on Monday condemned remarks made by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir about constructing a synagogue at the al-Aqsa Mosque site.

Çelik described these comments as "vile and cursed," asserting they are an attack on all Muslims and humanity.

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.

Türkiye on Friday slammed Israel's recent attacks on journalists, underlining their commitment to supporting media professionals reporting on the Palestinian plight.

"We wish a speedy recovery to the TRT News cameraman who was injured in occupiers' attack, and we extend our get-well wishes to the TRT family," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement.

Ankara has slammed a raid by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, accompanied by Israeli security guards, on the Haram Al-Sharif, one of the holiest sites for Muslims.

Calling Ben-Gvir's raid on the Haram Al-Sharif a violation of international law in a written statement on May 21, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said it "strongly condemns" the breach.

Türkiye has strongly condemned the raid by fanatical Jewish groups on Masjid al-Aqsa under the protection of the Israeli police.

Israeli police stormed into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City early Wednesday, firing stun grenades at Palestinian youths who hurled firecrackers at them in a burst of violence during a sensitive holiday season. Palestinian militants in Gaza responded with rocket fire on southern Israel, prompting repeated Israeli airstrikes.

The raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli parliament member Itamar Ben-Gvir and radical Jewish groups under the protection of the Israeli police, as well as the attempts of these groups to worship in this area, are a "clear violation" of the status quo of Al-Haram Al-Sharif and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Foreign Ministry said on May 29.

A gold earring believed to date back more than 2,000 years has been unearthed near the site of the ancient Jewish temples in Jerusalem, in what Israeli archaeologists called rare evidence of Hellenistic influence.