LONDON — August 7, 2025
Israeli authorities have extended a ban preventing Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for an additional six months, according to his legal team.
The move follows a Friday sermon delivered by Sheikh Hussein in late July, during which he condemned Israel’s starvation policy targeting Gaza’s population, Wafa news agency reported.
The mufti was first summoned by Israeli forces on July 27, when he was handed an eight-day expulsion order from the revered holy site in occupied East Jerusalem. That temporary ban has now been extended through early 2026, his lawyer confirmed Wednesday.
🕌 Al-Aqsa: More Than a Religious Ban
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and a flashpoint for political and religious tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Barring the grand mufti from the site is being seen by many Palestinians as part of a broader strategy to undermine religious leadership at the compound.
✋ Palestinian Authority Slams Decision
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs strongly condemned the extension, calling it an act of political suppression and religious aggression.
“The ban of the mufti is a clear attempt by the (Israeli) occupation to empty Al-Aqsa of religious authorities who confront its plans,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added that the decision “demonstrates the extent and scope of [Israel’s] violations in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Al-Aqsa Mosque in particular.”
🧠Context: A Sermon on Gaza
The controversial sermon that triggered the ban took place just weeks after reports of worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where over 2 million Palestinians remain under blockade. In the sermon, Sheikh Hussein criticized what he called an “Israeli starvation policy,” likely referencing severe restrictions on aid, food, and water entering the territory.
Israel has previously accused several clerics and figures at Al-Aqsa of incitement, though critics say such bans are aimed at silencing Palestinian religious voices and normalizing control over East Jerusalem.
📌 Political and Legal Fallout
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This is not the first time Sheikh Hussein has been banned from Al-Aqsa.
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Legal experts warn that extending the ban for six months without a formal trial may violate international protections for religious freedom.
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Human rights groups are expected to issue formal responses in the coming days.
📷 Visual Implications
Photos and videos of Israeli forces delivering the expulsion order have circulated widely, stirring condemnation across Palestinian social media and from various Arab and Islamic organizations.
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