Russia has voiced strong concerns following the recent storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The incident, which took place on Tuesday, saw the far-right minister enter the sacred site with over 2,000 radical Israelis, who engaged in praying, waving flags, and singing the national anthem, despite Jewish religious activities being banned at the holy site.

In a video statement, Ben-Gvir defended the actions, stating, "Our policy is to enable Jewish prayer," and further vowed to "defeat Hamas" in Gaza.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday, condemning the event as "another provocative action" and expressing deep concern over the minister's actions. Moscow called on Israeli authorities not only to condemn the incident but also to implement effective measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.

"Israeli authorities should not limit themselves to condemning them, but take effective measures to stop this vicious practice, which grossly violates the status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites, enshrined in the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty of 1994," the statement read.

The ministry further criticized the frequent actions by supporters of religious Zionism, warning that such incidents fuel radical sentiments within both Israeli society and among Palestinians. This, it argued, undermines international efforts to de-escalate violence in the region, especially amid the ongoing hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, while Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, believed to be the site of two ancient Jewish temples. The complex is located in East Jerusalem, a territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, and later annexed in 1980—a move that remains unrecognized by the international community. (ILKHA)