Palestine Weekly: Ben-Gvir Visits Al-Aqsa as Gaza Strikes Continue

Following a ceasefire announcement between the United States and Iran, holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, reopened to worshippers. Over 100,000 Muslims attended Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa, marking the first gathering since late February. However, tensions remained high as Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the site, declaring himself the 'master of the house' and performing Jewish rituals, actions condemned by Jordan. Israeli police also detained Palestinian Christian scouts and removed flag patches during Easter processions. Meanwhile, violence persisted in the Gaza Strip despite the broader regional de-escalation. Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire continued, killing several Palestinians, including nine-year-old Ritaj Rihan and Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Wishah. The death of Wishah brings the total number of media workers killed in the conflict to at least 262. With peace processes stalled, the week highlighted a stark contrast between the celebratory reopening of religious sites in Jerusalem and the ongoing lethal military operations and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.