On Sunday, far-right Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited and prayed at Jerusalem's most volatile religious site, prompting regional backlash and concerns that the visit could inflame an already tense situation. Meanwhile, Gaza hospitals reported that Israeli fire killed 33 Palestinians attempting to access food aid.
As international criticism mounts over dire, famine-like conditions in the blockaded Gaza Strip, Ben-Gvir's appearance at the disputed Jerusalem compound further jeopardizes efforts by global mediators to end Israel’s nearly two-year-long military campaign.
The site—known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary—is sacred to both religions. It houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, and is where ancient Jewish temples once stood. While Jews may visit the compound under police escort, religious prayer by non-Muslims is banned under a longstanding status quo.
Ben-Gvir’s visit followed the release of distressing videos by Hamas showing emaciated Israeli hostages. These clips sparked outrage across Israel and increased pressure on the government to negotiate the release of the roughly 50 remaining hostages taken during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, assault—an attack that ignited the current war.
During his visit, Ben-Gvir repeated calls for Israel to annex Gaza and for the voluntary emigration of Palestinians—comments seen as inflammatory and disruptive to peace negotiations. His prior visits to the site have sparked violence and contributed to the 2021 war between Israel and Hamas.
Sunday's visit was denounced by Palestinian leaders, Jordan (custodian of Al-Aqsa), Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. In Yemen, Houthi rebels claimed to have launched three drones toward Israel, although Israel's military said it intercepted one suspicious aerial object.
Outrage Over Hostage Videos
Hamas and Islamic Jihad released videos of hostages describing dire conditions, including lack of food. The footage sparked widespread protests in Tel Aviv, urging both Israel and the U.S. to push for a hostage deal.
Israel's U.N. delegation called for an emergency Security Council session on the hostage issue, set for Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of using the footage to manipulate public opinion and said talks with the Red Cross were underway to ensure food and medical help for the hostages.
The Red Cross condemned the videos and demanded access to the captives. Hamas indicated it would allow food deliveries to hostages if aid routes were reliably opened.
Right-wing Israeli politicians argued the videos prove Hamas must be decisively defeated.
Deadly Incidents Near Food Aid Sites
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that an employee died after Israeli shelling hit its office. Israel said it was investigating the claim. The Red Cross condemned the rising toll of aid workers killed during the war.
Hospitals in Gaza said Israeli forces fatally shot at least 33 Palestinians trying to obtain food on Sunday. Witnesses described chaotic scenes with gunfire erupting as desperate crowds approached aid centers.
One witness, Yousef Abed, said he couldn’t assist injured people due to the ongoing shooting.
Two hospitals reported receiving bodies from routes leading to Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid points, including 11 fatalities in Teina near Khan Younis.
Three eyewitnesses, including one who traveled through Teina, told AP that Israeli troops opened fire in areas designated as military zones. The Israeli army claimed no knowledge of casualties from its operations near aid sites, while GHF denied any gunfire occurred near its locations.
According to the U.N., 859 people have died near GHF sites since late May, with many others killed on roads used by U.N.-coordinated food convoys. GHF said its contractors only use pepper spray or warning shots when needed to prevent deadly overcrowding. Israel’s military also denied using live fire, attributing deaths to other factors.
Rising Starvation Deaths
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that six adults died of malnutrition in the past day, bringing the adult starvation death toll to 82 in just over a month. Since the war began, 93 children have died from hunger-related causes, according to the ministry.
These figures are not counted among general war fatalities.
Although Israel recently increased aid flow—allowing in 1,200 trucks and airdropping supplies—the U.N. says this is far from enough, noting that 500–600 trucks are needed daily to meet humanitarian needs.
The war, sparked by the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251, has resulted in over 60,800 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, its figures are widely regarded as reliable by the U.N. and humanitarian organizations. Israel disputes the figures but has not released alternative data.