Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the head of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem, has reportedly faced an extension of his ban from Al-Aqsa Mosque until April 2027. The prominent Palestinian preacher has been repeatedly targeted by exclusion orders issued by the Israeli regime, which he has publicly described as unjust, illegal, and an attempt to silence advocates for the holy site.

Human rights monitors in the region claim that the Israeli regime has issued more than 1,000 exclusion orders barring Palestinians from the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of 2026. These measures allegedly affect numerous religious figures, Islamic Waqf employees, and ordinary worshippers, with documentation showing a surge in such restrictions ahead of religious holidays.

Local residents, including individuals like Ibrahim al-Natsheh, have reported facing frequent detentions and indefinite entry bans without formal charges. Worshippers allege that approaching the mosque has become increasingly difficult due to heavy security deployments and hostile encounters with settlers, severely curtailing freedom of worship.

Palestinian officials further claim that these developments are part of a broader strategy by the Israeli regime to erode the authority of the Islamic Waqf and alter the longstanding status quo at the compound. Reports indicate a significant rise in visits by Jewish religious activists and a reduction in the administrative capabilities of local Muslim authorities.

Source: www.aljazeera.com