Israeli minister visits sensitive Jerusalem holy site, threatening Gaza talks

National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he had gone to pray for the return of hostages (Ohad Zwigenberg/Pool/AP)

Israel’s national security minister visited Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site on Thursday, threatening to disrupt Gaza ceasefire talks.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist settler leader, said he had gone up to the contested Jerusalem hilltop compound of Al Aqsa Mosque to pray for the return of the hostages “but without a reckless deal”.