Ned Price
Ned PriceREUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/POOL/File Photo

After the condemnations in the Arab world, the US on Tuesday also joined in the criticism of the visit to the Temple Mount by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Israel said that Ambassador Tom Nides “has been very clear in conversations with the Israeli government on the issue of preserving the status quo in Jerusalem’s holy sites. Actions that prevent that are unacceptable.”

A White House National Security Council spokesperson told Axios later on Tuesday that the Biden administration expects Netanyahu to follow through on his written commitment to the governing platform, which calls for the preservation of the status quo in the holy places in Jerusalem.

"Any unilateral action that jeopardizes the status quo is unacceptable," the NSC spokesperson said.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said at Tuesday's daily briefing, “We are deeply concerned by the visit of the Israeli minister at the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif. This visit has the potential of exacerbating tensions and lead to violence."

Nides himself criticized the Israeli government on Tuesday morning.

Speaking with Axios’ Barak Ravid shortly after Ben Gvir’s visit, Nides protested any perceived changes to the status quo on the Temple Mount.

“To be very clear - we want to preserve status quo and actions that prevent that are unacceptable. We have been very clear in our conversations with the Israeli government on this issue,” he said.

Britain also criticized the visit. The British Consulate in Jerusalem wrote on its Facebook page, “Concerned by the visit to Haram al Sharif/Temple Mount by Minister Ben-Gvir today. The UK remains committed to the Status Quo, and it is important that all should avoid actions which inflame tensions and undermine the cause of peace.”

Following the visit, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan are trying to bring about a meeting of the UN Security Council in order to discuss the "violation of the status quo".

On Sunday, the Hamas terrorist organization threatened Israel in response to Ben Gvir's planned visit.

"The extremist Ben Gvir is trying to convince his voters that he is implementing his promises by breaking into Al-Aqsa (Mosque)," said Harun Nasser El-Din, the Hamas official responsible for the issue of Jerusalem.

"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)."