WEST BANK: Israeli occupation forces arrested Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem, on Friday afternoon. The arrest followed his Friday sermon at Al-Aqsa Mosque, where he delivered a eulogy for Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated by Israel in Tehran on Wednesday.
Israeli police reportedly raided Sheikh Sabri’s home in the Al-Suwwana neighborhood, east of Jerusalem’s Old City, and took him to the Moscobiyeh detention center.
Sheikh Sabri has denied accusations of incitement, asserting that his sermon was a religious tribute rather than a call to violence. Lawyer Khaled Zabarqa, a member of Sabri’s defense team, stated that he found no incitement in Sabri’s speech and criticized extremist Jewish groups for targeting Sabri using legal means.
Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, have called for Sabri’s arrest and the revocation of his residency permit. Arbel has accused Sabri of security offenses and breach of trust due to his eulogy for Haniyeh, whom he labeled a “terrorist leader.”
Arbel announced plans to revoke Sabri’s permanent residency, citing Article 11(a) of the Entry into Israel Law, which permits residency revocation for actions deemed a breach of trust, such as terrorism or incitement, without a legal conviction.
