Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has risked inflaming religious tensions by reportedly praying at the Al Aqsa mosque site in Jerusalem.

The compound sits atop the Temple Mount, which is considered holy in Islam, Judaism and Christianity, has been a flashpoint during the Israel-Hamas war .

In this story, Sky News looks at why the security minister is so inflammatory - and why his actions at Al Aqsa are so controversial.

Image: Itamar Ben-Gvir visits the Al Aqsa site in August 2024. File pic: Reuters

Who is Itamar Ben-Gvir?

Viewed as a hardline extremist by some, Itamar Ben-Gvir is a powerful figure in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Burly, bespectacled and rough-spoken, the 49-year-old has appeared to delight in offending anyone not aligned to the views

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