The visit is condemned by, among others, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Palestinian leaders.
The Temple Mount is holy to Jews and Muslims. Jews and other non-Muslims are allowed to visit the area – which in Arabic is called al-Haram al-Sharif – at certain times, but they are not allowed to pray or display religious symbols.
In recent years, the restrictions have been increasingly ignored by religious ultra-nationalists like Ben-Gvir, which has led to violent reactions from Palestinians. Since he took office in 2022, Ben-Gvir has made several visits to the Temple Mount.
Ben-Gvir's statements that Gaza should be annexed and that Palestinians should be "encouraged to leave" have led to increased unease in an already tense situation. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasizes on Sunday that the rules for the site should not be changed.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claim to have responded by firing three drones at Israel – something the Israeli military says it has thwarted.
