The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, delivered his Friday sermon before a crowd of 40,000 worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. In his sermon, he condemned what he called Israel’s “starvation policy” against Palestinians in Gaza, recited a prayer for the souls of the victims, and warned of Israeli actions at the holy site. He called on the public to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque from violations
Escorted Through Mughrabi Gate After Friday Sermon
Immediately after the sermon, Israeli police entered the room where Sheikh Hussein was located. Videos shared by Palestinian sources show the Mufti being escorted from the site by several officers through the Mughrabi Gate — usually reserved for Jewish visitors. According to these sources, police had also searched the office of the Waqf’s chief guard and the office of Al-Aqsa director Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani before detaining the Mufti
لحظة اقتياد قوات الاحتلال المفتي العام للقدس الشيخ محمد حسين خلال اعتقاله من المسجد الأقصى المبارك اليوم والاعتداء على حارسه الشخصي pic.twitter.com/LXIBWVl1PH
— القسطل الإخباري (@AlQastalps) July 25, 2025
Temporary Ban on Al-Aqsa Entry Issued
After approximately two hours of detention, Sheikh Hussein was released and handed a temporary order banning him from the Al-Aqsa compound pending a final decision. The incident has intensified tensions in Jerusalem, already heightened by reports of Israeli intentions to demolish the home of Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, Hussein’s predecessor as Mufti
Local and International Condemnation Mounts
The detention has sparked outrage across Palestinian society and the Arab world. The Palestinian Supreme Fatwa Council, chaired by Hussein, issued a sharp condemnation, describing the act as “an attack on religious freedom and Palestinian religious authority
Hussein’s son, Omar Hussein, called the incident a “kidnapping,” claiming it was carried out violently and in direct response to the sermon. The Jerusalem Waqf also condemned the detention and demanded Hussein’s immediate release. The Cairo24 news site quoted Waqf officials calling the move part of a broader Israeli strategy to suppress religious activity in Al-Aqsa
Political figures also weighed in. Hanan Ashrawi, a senior PLO official and former foreign minister, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the detention was “a flagrant violation of human rights and freedom of religion,” calling on international organizations to pressure Israel
Mohammed Dahlan, a prominent Palestinian leader considered a possible successor to Mahmoud Abbas, expressed support for Hussein and accused Israel of “silencing the Palestinian voice in Jerusalem.” Israeli MK Ahmad Tibi also condemned the act on social media, calling it “part of Israel’s ongoing harassment of Palestinian religious leaders
Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, including from neighborhoods like Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah, shared videos of the Mufti’s removal and demanded his release, calling for protection of Al-Aqsa
Arab States Decry Israeli Move as Religious Violation
Across the Arab world, reactions have also been fierce. Egypt’s Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) issued a statement via Cairo24, calling the detention “an attack on religious worship and Islamic authority in Jerusalem,” while reaffirming Al-Aqsa’s sanctity
Jordan, which holds custodial rights over Al-Aqsa under its peace treaty with Israel, condemned the detention through its Ministry of Awqaf, describing it as “a blatant violation of the status quo” and reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding holy sites in Jerusalem
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement, calling the move “a violation of religious freedom and Palestinian rights.” Citing Al Jazeera, the statement urged the international community to act against what it termed “Israeli violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque
