Arab nations condemn Israeli minister's Al-Aqsa visit

Widespread condemnation erupted across Palestine and the Arab world after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prayed at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday, defying long-standing agreements and inflaming religious and political tensions.

Under a long-held status quo, Jews are allowed to visit the site but not to pray there. However, an increasing number of far-right Israeli extremists have prayed at the site in recent years.

Ben-Gvir led a group of Jewish settlers to the compound, which Muslims call the Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary. The site is considered sacred by both Muslims and Jews, with the former believing it houses Islam's third-holiest site, and the latter referring to it as the Temple Mount.

It was the first time the security minister had been seen openly praying at the compound. Despite police presence, no attempt was made to stop the minister, according to Israel's Kan TV.

In a video message shot on-site and shared on social media platform X, Ben-Gvir stated: "Precisely from here, a message must be sent: to ensure that we conquer all of the Gaza Strip, declare sovereignty over the entire Gaza Strip, take down every Hamas member, and encourage voluntary migration (of Palestinians from Gaza)."

"Only in this way will we bring back the hostages and win the war," he added, referring to the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza that reignited in October 2023.

The high-profile and provocative visit immediately drew a wave of condemnation across the Arab world.

In Ramallah, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, denounced the act as dangerous and reprehensible, accusing Ben-Gvir of deliberately sabotaging Arab and international efforts to restore peace and stability in the region. Lasting peace can only be achieved by recognizing the Palestinian people's rights to freedom, independence, and a sovereign state, he said.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas echoed the criticism in a statement, calling Ben-Gvir's actions an extension of Israel's ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people and their land. The group cited both the minister's actions and escalating settler violence in the West Bank, as well as the war in Gaza, as fueling regional instability.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it described as Israel's recurring provocative behavior and called on the international community to deter Israeli officials from violating international law and undermining regional peace.

Jordan's Foreign Ministry also strongly rejected Ben-Gvir's repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa compound, warning of dangerous consequences.

Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is located in East Jerusalem, a territory Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed shortly thereafter. The compound is now administered by the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, through its Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, but is secured by Israeli police.

Arab nations condemn Israeli minister's Al-Aqsa visit

Arab nations condemn Israeli minister's Al-Aqsa visit

Arab nations condemn Israeli minister's Al-Aqsa visit

Arab nations condemn Israeli minister's Al-Aqsa visit

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media