Dubai: The OIC strongly denounced an ultranationalist Israeli Cabinet minister's visit to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem on Tuesday morning.

Itamar Ben-brief Gvir's visit to the location while it was heavily guarded was referred to by the OIC in a strong-worded statement as "Israel's attempts to change the existing historical and legal status of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque."

The act was "a provocation to the feelings of all Muslims and a flagrant violation of relevant international resolutions," according to the OIC.

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Ben-Gvir has long advocated for increased Jewish access to the holy site, which Palestinians consider provocative and a possible sign that Israel will eventually seize control of the compound. Ben-Gvir stayed away from the mosque.
The visit, according to Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, was an effort to convert the mosque complex "into a Jewish temple."

Shtayyeh also urged Palestinians to "confront the raids into Al Aqsa mosque" in a speech to his cabinet.

The extremist minister Ben-invasion Gvir's of the Al-Aqsa mosque, according to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, is "strongly condemned" and is seen as "an unprecedented provocation and a dangerous escalation of the conflict."

Jordan stated on Tuesday that it also "severely" condemned Ben-visit Gvir's to the Al-Aqsa mosque complex.

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Jordan's foreign ministry issued a statement saying, "Jordan condemns in the strongest terms the storming of the Aqsa mosque and violating its sanctity." Including that the visit was against both "the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem" and international law.

Hamas, an Islamic militant organisation, issued threats after Ben-Gvir announced earlier this week that he intended to visit the location.

Regarding Ben-visit, Gvir's a spokesman for Hamas stated: "A continuation of this behaviour will bring all parties closer to a major clash."

The Old City of Jerusalem's hilltop location, which is regarded as the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism, serves as the emotional centre of the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The majority of rabbis forbade Jews from praying there, but there has been a growing group of Jews who support worship there in recent years.

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Ben-Gvir is the leader of the Jewish Power ultranationalist religious faction and has a history of making incendiary statements and acting violently toward Palestinians.