Sheikh Muhammad Saranda, one of the preachers of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, was expelled from the compound for six months following remarks of incitement delivered before tens of thousands of worshippers against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza. Saranda is the fifth senior Muslim cleric in recent months to use the Friday sermon at Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem as a platform for incitement and to be removed from the Mount.
Sermons at Al-Aqsa and the Gaza war
According to Palestinian sources who cited parts of his sermon on Friday, September 19, 2025, before an audience of about 40,000 worshippers, Saranda said among other things: “Send them liberation, strengthen them, have mercy on their martyrs.”
Incitement on the Temple Mount before tens of thousands
In another part of his sermon, when speaking about women in Gaza, Saranda declared: “My Muslim brothers, in this blessed mosque, the peak of injustice is the falsehood of women’s rights in the so-called ‘enlightened’ West, which claims to defend women, while here (in Gaza) they are humiliated and starved, rejected by the second Israeli cruelty. In Gaza, women are forced to steal for their children, gripped by fear in tents, famine devouring their bodies, because of policies of extermination and siege. This is not justice, but a crime against humanity! Allah, protect our brothers in Gaza, and support the people of Al-Aqsa.”
“قمة الظلم أكذوبة حقوق المرأة عند الغرب الماكر، والمرأة تُذل وتجوع في نزوحها هنا بيد البطش الأخرى”.. خطبة الجمعة أمس التي أبعد الاحتلال بسببها خطيب المسجد الأقصى محمد سرندح 6 أشهر عن الرحاب المباركة pic.twitter.com/Qyy2CWyTyB
— شبكة العاصمة الإخبارية (@alasimannews) September 20, 2025
Expulsion through Jerusalem’s Mughrabi Gate
In Palestinian posts summarizing his words, though not a precise transcript, it was also claimed that he said: “My brothers in Al-Aqsa Mosque, Gaza today is witnessing mass extermination, a massacre carried out against our people. Thieving Israel kills tens of thousands, destroys homes, and starves children and women with a deliberate policy of famine. This is not war, but a crime against humanity, deadly hunger imposed by tyrants. Every Muslim must resist this injustice and raise his voice in defense of our brothers in Gaza, for Al-Aqsa groans with Gaza’s pain.”
Immediately after his sermon, Saranda was detained by Jerusalem District police officers and removed from the Temple Mount through the Mughrabi Gate, which during the week is used by Jewish visitors. He was taken for a hearing where he was informed of an immediate seven-day removal order, pending a final decision. It was later determined that he would be expelled from the Mount for six months.
Other Muslim clerics expelled from the Mount
Saranda is not the first Muslim cleric expelled from the Temple Mount in recent months for inciting remarks connected to the Gaza war. Preceding him were Sheikh Muhammad Hussein – the Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri – head of the Islamic Higher Council and former Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Salim – another preacher at Al-Aqsa, and Sheikh Iyad al-Abbasi – the chief qadi of Jerusalem (Al-Quds).
