An official in the Prime Minister’s Office rejected claims that the visit of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Har Habayis Tuesday morning constitutes a change in the status quot at tge site, the holiest in Judaism.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to strictly maintaining the status quo, without changes, on the Har Habayis. We will not be dictated to by Hamas. Under the status quo, ministers have gone up to the Temple Mount in recent years, including Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan; therefore, the claim that a change has been made in the status quo is without foundation,” the official said.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ascended the Temple Mount this morning (Tuesday) to mark the fast of the Tenth of Tevet. This is his first visit since the elections and it was coordinated with the Israeli Police.

Ben-Gvir arrived at the Temple Mount under heavy security that included his personal bodyguards and other police officers.