Ben Gvir storms Al-Aqsa and vows to impose 'sovereignty and firmness' during Ramadan

The extremist National Security Minister in the occupation government, Itamar Ben Gvir, stormed the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque this Friday morning, in a new provocative step aimed at escalating tension in the Holy City. Ben Gvir chaired an extensive security meeting inside the police command room in occupied Jerusalem, dedicated to what he described as 'assessing field conditions' and setting final security arrangements before the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.

The meeting was attended by high-ranking leaders of the occupation's security apparatuses, headed by Police Commissioner General Danny Levy, and Jerusalem District Commander General Avshi Feld, along with a number of senior officers responsible for securing the area. Discussions focused on coordinating field mechanisms and the restrictions that will be imposed on Palestinian worshipers wishing to access the Noble Sanctuary, amid fears of clashes erupting as a result of these repressive measures.

During a field tour he conducted at the 'Mughrabi Gate' area, the extremist minister addressed dozens of occupation police officers directly, assuring them of absolute support and full political cover to carry out any field operations that commanders deem necessary. Ben Gvir stressed in his speech that imposing what he called 'sovereignty and firmness' is the only way to ensure deterrence and prevent any attempts at protest, claiming that force is the only language that prevents people from tampering with security, as he put it.

Despite Ben Gvir's claims about respecting 'freedom of worship,' his statements carried a clear tone of threat, as he vowed to strike with an iron fist those he described as 'instigators of chaos' in Al-Aqsa Mosque. He indicated that the occupation's strategy in the coming phase relies on tightening security control to ensure that situations do not get out of hand, considering that strong deterrence will achieve the desired calm in the coming weeks.

For its part, Hebrew press reports, including what was published by 'Maariv' newspaper, indicated that Ben Gvir's directives reflect the far-right's desire to change the status quo in Islamic holy sites and impose a new security reality. Local sources warned that these incursions and direct threats could lead to an explosion of the situation in Jerusalem and all Palestinian territories, especially in light of the severe tension experienced by the Palestinian street due to the continuous practices of the occupation.

Governance and firmness are the only way to achieve deterrence, even during the holy month of Ramadan.