Thousands of far-right Israelis raid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem
Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led thousands of Israelis into Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound on July 23, breaching the site’s decades-old status quo as he marked a Jewish day of mourning.
The visit coincided with Tisha B’Av, the Jewish fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples.
This year it is being observed from July 22 night through 23, with Jews fasting for roughly 25 hours.
Beyond the temples’ destruction, the day is traditionally tied to a string of calamities said to have befallen the Jewish people on or near the same date throughout history.
