Key facts
- Israeli forces detained Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine.
- The detention occurred inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound following Friday prayers.
- Sheikh Hussein had condemned Israeli policies against Palestinians in Gaza during his sermon.
- Israeli police also raided the mosque's audio control room and offices.
- The Islamic Waqf condemned the incident as a violation of religious freedoms.
Israeli forces detained Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, on Friday shortly after he concluded his sermon and prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. Local sources reported that the Mufti was detained following a sermon in which he condemned the ongoing Israeli policy of starvation against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.
The arrest took place within the mosque’s courtyards, with Sheikh Hussein reportedly being forcibly removed through the Moroccan Gate. In a coordinated operation, Israeli police also stormed the mosque’s audio control room, cutting off and seizing equipment, while raiding the offices of the mosque’s chief guard and director. The motive for these additional raids is unclear but appears linked to Sheikh Hussein’s sermon.
The Islamic Waqf, which administers the Al-Aqsa Mosque, condemned the detention, calling it a provocative violation of religious freedoms and a dangerous escalation. The detention comes amid continued Israeli restrictions on worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, with thousands performing prayers under heavy Israeli military measures. The Israeli army and settlers have also escalated attacks in the occupied West Bank, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties.