Hamas condemned a visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, calling it a “provocative and dangerous escalation”, AFP reports.

In a statement, the group called for Palestinians “and our youth in the West Bank to escalate their confrontation … in defence of our land and our sanctities, foremost among them the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque”.