Hamas has condemned a visit by far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, calling it a “threat” to regional peace, Al Jazeera reports.

In a statement, the group described the visit, led by Ben-Gvir and Knesset member Amit Halevi, as “an escalation of aggression against our Palestinian people” and “a provocation of the feelings of Muslims everywhere”.

Hamas warned that such actions “directly threaten regional and international peace and security” and urged the international community and the United Nations to “hold [Israel’s] extremist government accountable”.

The group also called on the world to take “urgent steps” to stop what it described as “systematic violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque”, and urged Palestinians to continue resisting Israeli actions in Jerusalem.