On Tuesday, the Maldivian government denounced the incursion into the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound by an Israeli minister and soldiers who joined him.

On Monday, a group of soldiers and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa compound. Before the invasion, Israeli troops had prohibited Muslims from accessing the mosque. Ben-Gvir subsequently entered the compound accompanied by troops, even though the area had been off-limits to Muslim worshippers for several days.

Since February 28, the mosque has been off-limits to Muslims due to attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States, with Israeli officials citing "security reasons" for this lockdown.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry called the actions a blatant breach of international law and a conscious act of aggression intended to subvert the legal, historical, and religious significance of the Al‑Aqsa Mosque.

The ministry stated that hindering Palestinians from reaching the mosque, along with ongoing infringements by occupying forces, violates the basic rights of the Palestinian population. “It represents a significant assault on the emotions of Muslims globally,” the statement indicated.

The government urged the international community to take urgent and firm measures to prevent Israel from carrying out inhumane actions that violate one of the most revered sites of the Islamic Ummah, and to ensure Israel is held responsible.