Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released video and photographs on Saturday of a visit to the excavation tunnels under Jerusalem’s Old City, beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, saying he was “very close to the Holy of Holies” and that Israelis “are here, and we will always remain here”; on Thursday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the compound for Yom Kippur prayers, and on Sunday about 570 settlers passed through the courtyards by 10am local time, according to the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate.

Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt condemned the entries; Jordan’s Foreign Ministry called them “a blatant violation of the existing historical and legal status quo” and said the Islamic Waqf affiliated with Amman is the site’s legal custodian. Hamas called Netanyahu’s tunnel visit “a flagrant assault” on the sanctuary’s identity. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera say the release is driven by the October election, with Netanyahu trailing in the polls.