The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that Israel’s recently reappointed National Security Minister Ben-Gvir’s continuous calls for settlers to intensify their raids on al-Aqsa Mosque constitute further evidence of a plan to “change the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem”.

The ministry warned this included “attempts to separate it from its Palestinian surroundings and impose a new reality”, including building a synagogue in place of the mosque, which is Islam’s third holiest site.

“This requires a firm and urgent international response,” it added, stressing that the escalating tensions should be dealt “with utmost seriousness”.

The statement comes hours after hundreds of settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque. Some performed a religious ritual called an “epic prostration”, drawing praise from Ben-Gvir.