Israel Detains Jerusalem Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, Bans Him From Al-Aqsa for One Week

Israeli authorities detained Jerusalem Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Hussein after he delivered the Friday sermon and led prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, and then released him with an order barring him from entering the mosque compound for one week.

The Jerusalem Governorate said the ban followed Hussein’s detention after Friday prayers, and TRT World reported that he was later released after authorities issued an order banning him from entering the compound for one week.

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Al Jazeera reported that the Jerusalem Governorate said Hussein was detained after delivering his Friday sermon at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and that he was released but temporarily banned for one week with the possibility of renewal.

In the same account, Al Jazeera said the Quds News Network reported Hussein was arrested for the contents of his sermon, during which he prayed for mercy for Palestinians killed by Israel and relief for those held in Israeli prisons.

In a message to Al Jazeera, the Jerusalem Governorate said “the arrest was carried out in order to serve him [Hussein] with an order banning him from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for one week, with the possibility of renewal.”

Al Jazeera also quoted the governorate saying “This is not the first time such a measure has been taken against him,” placing the one-week ban within a recurring pattern of restrictions.

Al Jazeera

Middle East Monitor similarly said Israeli authorities barred Hussein from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for one week after detaining him following Friday prayers, and it noted there was no immediate comment from Israeli police.

The same Middle East Monitor account said earlier on Friday, tens of thousands of Palestinians performed Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, as the latest measure came amid escalating Israeli actions at the holy site.

Al Jazeera framed the ban as part of escalating Israeli measures in occupied Palestinian territory since October 2023, saying more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank since then, including at least 243 children.

In the same report, Al Jazeera said Amnesty International released a report accusing the Israeli government of carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing in the territory, concluding it was state-led and not the result of rogue settlers or far-right ministers.

Separately, Al Jazeera described a Friday attack in Huwara, Nablus, where local sources said settlers set upon a Palestinian family using pepper spray and physically beating them, and that Israeli forces were reportedly present and protected the settlers during the attack.

Al Jazeera added that Israeli forces then allegedly assaulted residents and arrested three members of the family, including 80-year-old Ibrahim Ismail al-Jabour, as the incident came amid growing international concern over violence in the occupied West Bank.