Israel Bans Major Mufti Of Jerusalem And Palestine From Entering Al-Aqsa Mosque For Six Months

JAKARTA - Israeli authorities issued a six-month ban on entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque against Jerusalem's Great Mufti and the Palestinian Territory of Sheikh Muhammad Hussein.

Jerusalem's governorship, citing lawyer Khaldoun Najm, confirmed that the occupation authorities decided to ban Sheikh Hussein from Al-Aqsa for six months, after the end of the eight-day ban he had served.

The ban comes after his Friday sermon condemned the occupationary hunger policy of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on July 25.

The Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs condemned Israel's decision.

It said in a statement on Wednesday that the ban on the Mufti Besar was a clear attempt by the occupation authorities to vacate Al-Aqsa from religious authorities opposing its plans, showing and coverage of its abuses in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in general, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in particular.

Israeli forces detained Sheikh Hussein after Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex on July 25. According to the Islamic Waqf Department, Israeli police detained Sheikh Hussein, took him out of the mosque grounds and escorted him to the Morocco Gate, one of the gates to the Al-Aqsa compound. Local sources reported that Israeli forces stormed the mosque's audio control room and briefly detained the Mufti Besar.

The sources also confirmed Israeli police special units raided the office of the mosque guard chief and the mosque director's office, along with the detention of the Mufti.

Sources and local officials said Israeli police released Sheikh Hussein on the same day after detaining him for several hours, quoted from Anadolu.

Later, Israeli forces have summoned Sheikh Hussein on July 27 and ordered an initial eight-day eviction from the mosque, with a possible extension.

This is not the first time a preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been detained by Israeli authorities.

Another Friday preacher at the mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Salim, was arrested in April after offending Gaza's war in his sermon. He was banned from entering the mosque for a week.

Israeli police have also repeatedly interrogated and banned Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, Jerusalem's former great mufti, from Al-Aqsa for a long period of years.

Restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa have been in effect since the start of the genocide war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, with tighter controls usually enforced on Friday.