Ben-Gvir visits Al-Aqsa compound amid Sukkot access restrictions

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa compound during Sukkot on Monday, September 28, as Israeli police secured visits by Israeli groups and Palestinian officials reported restrictions on access to the site. Reports gave differing totals for Israeli visitors that morning: the Islamic Waqf Department said 1,222 had entered by Monday morning, while the Jerusalem Governorate reported 900. The figures were attributed to separate Palestinian authorities, and the reports did not explain the difference in their counting methods or cutoff times. Ben-Gvir entered the compound under police protection, according to reports. He said, “We are the owners of the place in Al-Aqsa,” according to an account of his visit. The Jerusalem Governorate said Israeli forces closed streets and intersections around the Old City leading to the compound. It also reported that visitors danced and sang in the courtyards. The visit came a day after the Jerusalem Governorate reported that 1,143 Israelis entered the compound in groups under police protection on Sunday, September 27. That figure was attributed to a statement by the governorate.