February 21, 2026 | 10:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The right-wing Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, entered the area around the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, February 20, 2026, coinciding with the first Friday prayer of Ramadan. Footage shared on social media showed him arriving through the Moroccan Gate, accompanied by Israeli police commissioner Daniel Levy and Jerusalem District police commander Avshalom Peled.
As reported by Arab News, Ben-Gvir was seen making provocative statements directed at Palestinian residents in front of Israeli police officers. The Moroccan Gate, located near the Al-Buraq Wall, is one of the main entrances to Al-Aqsa and has been under Israeli control since 1967. Israeli forces and settlers regularly use this gate to access the mosque complex.
The Jerusalem Provincial Government stated that Ben-Gvir's actions were taken amidst increased Israeli security measures and tighter restrictions on Palestinian residents in occupied Jerusalem during Ramadan. An estimated 80,000 worshippers attended the first Friday prayer of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to figures provided by the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem.
Since early in the morning, Israeli forces have imposed strict controls on Palestinian residents traveling from the West Bank to Jerusalem. Dozens of elderly worshippers were reportedly turned back at the Qalandia and Bethlehem checkpoints after being informed that they did not have the required permits.
According to eyewitnesses, security forces also detained four paramedics and disrupted the work of journalists and medical teams in Qalandia.
Additional security measures were implemented at the entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa compound. Young people were asked to show their identification, and some worshippers were denied entry.
Read: Israel Tightens Al-Aqsa Mosque Entry Restrictions for First Ramadan Friday Prayer
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