Israel’s Ben Gvir says he feels like the 'owner' of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said on Sunday that he feels like the “owner” of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City and that he was seeking greater access for Jewish worshippers.

Ben Gvir made the controversial comments during a raid of Al-Aqsa, one of Islam’s holiest sites, just days after Israel reopened the complex to Palestinian worshippers following more than a month-long closure.

"Today, I feel like the owner here," the far-right minister said in a video filmed at the site and distributed by his office.

"There is still more to do, more to improve. I keep pushing the Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] to do more and more; we must keep rising higher and higher."

The comments come amid ongoing efforts to increase Jewish presence at the site while restricting Palestinian access.

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