Israeli minister prays at contested holy site as 6 more Gazans die of starvation

A far-right Israeli minister visited and prayed at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site on Sunday, triggering regional condemnation and fears that the provocative move could further escalate tensions.

The visit came as hospitals in Gaza reported that 27 more Palestinians seeking food aid were killed by Israeli fire. Six died of starvation and malnutrition over the past 24 hours, Gaza’s health ministry said.

With Israel already facing global criticism over famine-like conditions in the besieged strip, the visit by Itamar Ben-Gvir to the hillside compound threatened to further set back efforts by international mediators to halt Israel’s nearly two-year military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The area, which Jews call the Temple Mount, is the holiest site in Judaism and was home to the ancient biblical temples. Muslims call the site the Noble Sanctuary. Today it is home to the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.

Visits are considered a provocation across the Muslim world and openly praying violates a longstanding status quo at the combustible site.

Under the status quo, Jews have been allowed to tour the site but are barred from praying, with Israeli police and troops providing security. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said after Ben-Gvir’s visit that Israel would not change the norms governing the holy site.

Ben-Gvir made the stop following Hamas’ release of videos showing two emaciated Israeli hostages. The videos caused in uproar in Israel and raised pressure on the government to reach a deal to bring home from Gaza the remaining hostages who were captured on Oct 7, 2023, in the attack that triggered the war.

Later in the day, Hamas’ spokesperson said the group was ready to deliver Red Cross aid to the hostages it was holding in Gaza if Israel opened humanitarian corridors permanently and halted “all forms of air traffic” during the delivery of packages to the hostages.

Elsewhere, tens of thousands of demonstrators braved pouring rain to march across Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge on Sunday calling for peace and aid deliveries in the war-torn Gaza Strip.