Harun Nasser El-Din, the Hamas official responsible for the issue of Jerusalem, warned on Sunday against National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s plans to visit the Temple Mount.
Ben Gvir informed police last week that he is planning to ascend the Mount during his first week in office, most likely this Tuesday, coinciding with the fast day of the Tenth of Tevet, though he may delay the visit until Wednesday.
In a message he published, Nasser El-Din said that "the extremist Ben Gvir is trying to convince his voters that he is implementing his promises by breaking into Al-Aqsa (Mosque)."
"We hold the government of the occupation responsible for any escalation if there is damage to Al-Aqsa (Mosque) or to our people who are clinging to Jerusalem," the Hamas official added.
"We call on our people to protect Al-Aqsa (Mosque), and we are sure that our people will thwart all attempts to impose a new reality on Al-Aqsa (Mosque)."
Earlier, Nasser El-Din called on the Muslims in Judea and Samaria and in Israel to come to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to stop the visits of the Jews to the site, stressing that "the Palestinian people will remain a defender of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy places" and "will stand behind the resistance (in dealing with the occupation."
Ben Gvir responded on Sunday night to the reports of his plans to visit the Temple Mount.
"I thank all the media for their interest in the issue of going up to the Temple Mount. Indeed, the Temple Mount is an important issue and, as I said, I plan to go up to the Temple Mount. Regarding the schedules - I promise to update when I go. Until then, I would love for the news broadcasts to open every evening with news that deals with the question of when I intend to go up to the Temple Mount," he said.