A minister from Israel's far-right visits Al-Aqsa "provoked"

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's far-right minister of national security, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, provoking criticism from Palestinians who called the move a "unprecedented provocation."

Ben-Gvir was observed at the location on Tuesday while being heavily guarded.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a minister on Israel's far-right, says he would not give in to "threats" because Palestinians are concerned about the holy site's status quo.

In response to Hamas's warning that such an action would cross a "red line," Ben-Gvir declared in a statement released by his spokesman, "Our government will not submit to the threats of Hamas."

Ben-Gvir has long advocated for increased Jewish access to the holy place, which Palestinians consider provocative and a possible sign that Israel will eventually seize control of the area. Distinguished rabbis forbade Jews from worshiping there.

After his visit, Ben-Gvir posted on Twitter that the location was "open to all" and that "things have changed," adding that "if Hamas believes that threatening me will discourage me, they should understand that times have changed."

Ben-departure, Gvir's according to a video published by Ofir Gendelman, the longtime Arabic-language spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has left the holy site in "totally tranquil" condition.

Being early in the morning and coming a day after Ben-Gvir seemed to change his mind about his plans, the visit appears to have been planned to avoid a direct confrontation with Palestinians and prevent a gathering of Palestinians at the location.

The extreme minister Ben-invasion Gvir's of the Al-Aqsa mosque, however, was fiercely condemned by the Palestinian foreign ministry, which described it as a "unprecedented provocation" and a "destructive escalation of the conflict."

Former Israeli prime minister and head of the opposition, Yair Lapid, had stated on Monday that Ben-intended Gvir's entry into the facility would spark riots and constitute a "deliberate provocation that will endanger lives."

Ben-Gvir was sworn in last week as part of a new far-right government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.