Occupied Jerusalem, September 20 (QNA) - Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir strutted into the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque Sunday evening, accompanied by several settlers and heavily escorted by Israeli occupation police, and performed Talmudic rituals in the eastern area of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Jerusalem Governorate said.

For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Religious Affairs expressed its flat-out denunciation of this move, stressing that these repeated incursions and provocative actions constitute flagrant encroachment and a nefarious attempt to enforce a new reality and alter the historic and legal status quo at the compound.

These unabated, methodical violations stoke bouts of rage among Muslims around the globe and constitute a repudiation of international laws and charters that call for respecting worshippers and protecting holy places, the ministry contended.

It called on the international community, human rights organizations, and Arab and Islamic nations to undertake their responsibilities and intervene immediately to tighten the screws on the occupation authorities to halt these abuses, as well as the persistent encroachments on occupied Jerusalem and Islamic and Christian holy sites.

With an overall area of 144 dunams, Al-Aqsa Mosque is exclusively dedicated to Muslim worship, the ministry underscored, reiterating that any attempt to divide the mosque or share its space is a non-starter.

Meanwhile, the ministry lambasted the closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshippers under the pretext of Jewish holidays and the forcing of its custodians and staff to evacuate the site from 2 p.m. Sunday until 10 p.m. Monday.

What is happening at the Ibrahimi Mosque is extremely dangerous, the ministry warned, noting that it flagrantly provokes Muslims' sentiments and amounts to an assault on freedom of worship, as well as the religious and historic character of the mosque, amid continuous Israeli measures against worshippers and mosque staff.

The ministry noted that the occupation forces have continued to prevent the call to prayer from being made at the mosque for the 90th consecutive day, citing flimsy alibis and kept throttling Muslims' freedom of access.

It noted that the occupation soldiers abet the colonizers' actions and grant them leeway to entirely desecrate the mosque's compound during Jewish holidays and hold their prayers and religious observances in its arcades and courtyards. (QNA)