Widespread Condemnation of Temple Mount Visits

Recent visits to the Temple Mount by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have sparked widespread condemnation. Prominent rabbis, including former chief Sephardic rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, have reiterated the Chief Rabbinate's prohibition on Jewish visits to the site, citing religious concerns and calling for peace. Ben-Gvir's actions have been criticized by the US, Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt as provocative and a violation of international law. These visits, involving up to 2,000 people, have raised tensions between Jewish and Muslim communities, complicating ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the implications of these acts for the Palestinian cause and called for immediate international intervention to safeguard worshippers and the sanctity of the site. Both Qatar and Egypt reiterated their support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.