Breaking: Occupation Detains Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Bans Him from Al-Aqsa, and Summons Him for Interrogation

SadaNews - Israeli occupation forces detained the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, today, Friday, after he delivered the Friday sermon at Al-Aqsa Mosque, banned him from Al-Aqsa, and handed him a summons for interrogation next Sunday at the "Qashleh" center.

The Islamic Waqf Directorate reported that the occupation police detained Sheikh Muhammad Hussein after he delivered the Friday sermon at Al-Aqsa Mosque and took him to the Maghareba Gate.

Local sources stated that the occupation forces stormed the sound room in Al-Aqsa Mosque and escorted Sheikh Muhammad Hussein after he delivered the Friday sermon, in which he condemned the starvation policy implemented by the Israeli occupation against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Furthermore, the sources added that a special force from the occupation police also stormed the room of the head of the guards and the office of the director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar Al-Kiswani, coinciding with the mufti's detention.

Thousands of citizens performed the Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque amid the tightened military measures imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities to control access to the mosque.

Local sources reported that the occupation forces obstructed worshippers' access to Al-Aqsa for prayer through the Damascus and Lions' Gate, scrutinizing their identities and stopping a number of young men from entering the mosque.

The occupation forces continue to impose strict restrictions on worshippers entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially on Fridays.

The occupation authorities deny thousands of citizens from the West Bank provinces access to Jerusalem to perform prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, making it a condition to obtain special permits to cross their military checkpoints surrounding the holy city.