Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently signed an order preventing senior Hamas activist Nasser Issa Jalal al-Hadmi, who serves as head of the “Committee Against the Judaization of Jerusalem,” from leaving the country. The order remains valid until July 24, 2026, and may be extended for another six months. It is intended to prevent him from acting as a liaison, transmitting reports and instructions, and, above all, transferring terrorism-related funds from abroad to strengthen Hamas’s civilian and religious infrastructure in East Jerusalem.
Who Is Nasser al-Hadmi and What Activities Does He Lead Against the Israeli Presence in Jerusalem?
Al-Hadmi is regarded as a persistent source of incitement who promotes a radical ideological agenda, with particular emphasis on the struggle over control of the Temple Mount and efforts to prevent Jewish settlement or the sale of land to Jews in Jerusalem. He lives in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of A-Tur, near the Mount of Olives, holds Israeli permanent-resident status and carries a blue Israeli identity card. He serves as head of the “Committee Against the Judaization of Jerusalem,” an organization identified with Hamas.
In this role, al-Hadmi is considered a central instigator who plans and widely distributes inflammatory messages. He uses his public position as head of the committee to appear regularly on Arab television channels, including Al-Aqsa and Al Jazeera, and to publish content on social media. He warns of what he describes as “Jewish incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque” and encourages resistance activity.
To avoid prolonged administrative detention or direct charges of membership in a terrorist organization, al-Hadmi presents himself as a “researcher on Jerusalem affairs” or as a legitimate political and civic activist. He uses these platforms to oppose any expression of Israeli sovereignty in the city, ranging from resistance to introducing the Israeli curriculum into East Jerusalem schools to allegations that the state deliberately spread the coronavirus in Arab neighborhoods.
Because he holds permanent-resident status rather than Israeli citizenship, the authorities have used strict administrative measures against him under emergency regulations. Over the years, he has repeatedly been subjected to administrative orders signed by the commander of the Jerusalem District Police, barring him from the Temple Mount area for extended periods in an effort to prevent him from leading disturbances. The restrictions have been prolonged, and as early as 2016 the interior minister signed an order prohibiting him from leaving the country to prevent contact with Hamas headquarters.
In 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison for supporting a terrorist organization and directly calling for violence against Jews. Al-Hadmi has also been repeatedly detained for questioning ahead of Jewish and Muslim holidays, based on intelligence assessments that he could inflame tensions.
