Ben Gvir, who has a history of incendiary rhetoric, recently declared that if possible, he would build a synagogue at the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem. The Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, has long been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The minister’s statement is seen not only as a direct affront to Palestinians but also as a deliberate provocation to the entire Muslim world.

The response from Islamic countries has been swift and severe. Condemnations have poured in from leaders across the Muslim world, with many warning that such actions could lead to an escalation of violence in the already volatile Gaza Strip. The conflict, which has been smoldering for months, could easily spiral out of control, dragging regional and global powers into a broader confrontation.

The recent killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent leader of Hamas, in Tehran has only added fuel to the fire. These targeted assassinations, widely believed to be carried out by Israeli forces, have escalated tensions to unprecedented levels. With Hezbollah’s recent retaliation, Lebanon is now on high alert, and the conflict threatens to spill over into a broader regional war.

Moreover, the involvement of major powers such as China and Russia, both of whom have expressed strong support for Islamic countries, complicates the situation further. China’s growing influence in the Middle East, evidenced by brokering peace deals between Iran and Saudi Arabia and later between Hamas and Fatah, has not gone unnoticed. The alignment of these powers with the Muslim world against Israel and its Western allies increases the risk of a broader conflict.

The possibility of this situation igniting a third world war, though unthinkable to some, cannot be dismissed outright. Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s provocative statement, combined with Israel’s recent military actions, has set the stage for a potentially catastrophic conflict. The international community, particularly the United Nations, must urgently intervene to de-escalate the situation. Failure to do so could result in a conflict with devastating consequences not only for the region but for the world at large.

In the face of these developments, the global community stands at a crossroads. The decisions made in the coming days and weeks will determine whether we move toward peace or plunge into a conflict that could engulf the world.