Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait, along with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran and the Muslim World League, have condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on September 20, several agencies reported on September 21.

The visit, made on Yom Kippur and Ben-Gvir's 17th to the site since taking office in 2023, comes as Washington seeks to hold together a Gulf coalition behind its war with Iran and as Riyadh presses the US for security guarantees against Houthi and Iraqi militia attacks.

Ben-Gvir toured the courtyards under heavy police guard and performed rituals in the eastern part of the compound, which is administered by Jordan under a status quo that permits Jewish visits but not prayer. His July 23 visit, with more than 3,200 Israelis entering the site, drew a joint condemnation from the foreign ministers of eight Arab and Muslim states.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said the kingdom rejected "provocative and inflammatory practices" by Israeli officials against Palestinians and Islamic and Christian holy sites, and called on the international community to halt violations of international law.

Jordan, which is custodian of the compound, condemned incursions by Israeli ministers, officials and settlers and the facilitation of access by Israeli police, saying Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its holy sites.

Qatar's foreign ministry said repeated incursions could raise tensions, undermine de-escalation efforts and threaten regional stability. Al-Aqsa is exclusively a place of worship for Muslims, it said, and unilateral measures to change the historical and legal status quo are invalid under international law.

Kuwait called the visit a serious violation of international law and reaffirmed support for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of “genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity” in Gaza, citing mass casualties, starvation, and the detention of Palestinians. It also condemned recent Israeli incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.

GCC Secretary-General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi and Muslim World League Secretary-General Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa said such practices increase tensions and called for international efforts to preserve the status quo.

The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs described the visit as "a flagrant violation of the sanctity of the holiest Islamic site and a malicious attempt to impose a new reality", according to Arab News.