Far-right Israeli security minister visits Al-Aqsa Mosque amid fears of violence

ISTANBUL (AA) - Israel's new national security minister entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, a day after announcing he postponed the visit amid warnings of unrest, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

According to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the site in a surprise visit accompanied by security personnel.

The newspaper quoted Ben-Gvir as saying that the country's new government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would "not succumb to Hamas threats."

"Temple Mount is the most important site for the people of Israel, and we maintain our freedom of movement there," he added.

For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third-holiest site. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Late on Monday, Ben-Gvir postponed the visit to Al-Aqsa which had been planned for this week after a phone call with Netanyahu, who just retook the government reins after an election in early November.

During the phone call, Ben-Gvir reportedly argued that the government should not give in to threats from Hamas against such a visit, voicing his intention to go to the mosque in the coming weeks.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN had earlier reported that Ben-Gvir's office notified police of his plans to visit the flashpoint site on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Palestinian group Hamas, for its part, said it would hold Israel responsible for any consequences of Ben-Gvir's planned visit.

Ben-Gvir holds far-right views on the Palestinians and has called for their displacement. He has repeatedly joined Israeli settlers in storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in East Jerusalem.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, in a move never recognized by the international community.

The far-right politician also caused a wave of escalation in the occupied city after setting up an office in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

Last November, Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned in a leaked audio clip that "the whole world is worried" about Ben-Gvir's extremist views.