Israel issues entry ban on Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher for mourning Hamas chief

JERUSALEM

Israeli authorities issued an entry ban on Thursday for Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher Sheikh Ekrima Sabri for six months over mourning assassinated Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, according to his defense lawyer.

“Sheikh Sabri was banned from entering the mosque for six months,” Khaled Zabarka said in a statement.

There was no confirmation yet from the Israeli Police.

Sabri, 85, was briefly detained by Israeli forces on Friday after mourning Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran on July 31 after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new president.

While Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of assassinating Haniyeh, Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility.

The preacher had previously been detained by Israeli forces and was barred from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem for months.

Sabri is a staunch critic of the decades-long Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. He had previously held the position of mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories from 1994 to 2006.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara