JERUSALEM, April 6, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right extremist, stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday evening through the Mughrabi Gate, under heavy guard from Israeli occupation forces.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem said that Ben-Gvir toured the mosque's courtyards, entering through the Mughrabi Gate and proceeding to the Chain Gate before returning via the same route, amidst a heavy deployment of occupation police.

The Waqf added that occupation forces intensified their military measures around the Al-Aqsa Mosque and closed the gates of Jerusalem's Old City during the incursion.

This incursion comes amidst escalating calls from colonists' groups to increase incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and is part of a series of incursions carried out by the extremist Ben-Gvir. He has stormed the mosque approximately 14 times since assuming his position in 2023, as part of an escalating policy towards the mosque.

Israeli occupation authorities continue to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the 38th consecutive day, under the pretext of a "state of emergency" and security concerns.

The occupation authorities are exploiting this pretext to tighten their control over the Al-Aqsa Mosque, at a time when popular and Jerusalemite calls are escalating to mobilize towards the nearest military checkpoints and barriers surrounding it, in an attempt to break the imposed siege and force its reopening.

K.T