Hamas Calls for Support for Al-Aqsa Mosque
Hamas made an important call to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League in a written statement. The statement demanded “immediate action against Israel’s attempts to Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque and to take the necessary measures to protect the holy places of Islam and Christians, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
In addition, Israel’s decision to ban Sheikh Ekrime Sabri, the imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, from entering the mosque for 6 months was condemned. It was emphasized that such bans are extremely worrying in terms of religious freedoms and human rights.
What happened?
The background to the events is the detention by Israeli police of Sheikh Sabri, the imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, who was praying for Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas Political Bureau who was assassinated in Iran, during his Friday sermon on August 2. After being detained for a while, Sheikh Sabri was released; However, it was announced that he was banned from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque for 6 months during this period.
Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel announced that plans are underway to cancel Sheikh Sabri’s “residence permit” (residence permit) in East Jerusalem and expand him from the city. In a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Arbel said he is considering canceling Sheikh Sabri’s “residence permit.” This situation is considered a serious threat in terms of restricting Palestinians’ living spaces and displacing them.
It is known that in recent years, the Israeli authorities have detained Sheikh Ekrima Sabri many times, subjected him to constant investigations and prevented him from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He has also been banned from traveling abroad. Israel is revoking the permanent residency status of Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem and is trying to deport them to the occupied West Bank.
