The far-right Israeli national security minister says he “went up to our holy place this morning to pray for the safety of our soldiers, for the speedy return of all those kidnapped, and for complete victory with God’s help”, Al Jazeera reports.

Itamar Ben-Gvir posted on X with an image of himself being protected by armed soldiers as he entered the holy Muslim site again in defiance of its longstanding status quo that prohibits Talmudic rituals being performed there.