Al-Aqsa Mosque Imam Banned by Israel from Entering Mosque for One Week

Al-Aqsa Mosque Imam Sheikh Muhammad Ali Al-Abbasi has said that Israel has banned him from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for one week, describing the prohibition as a serious matter.

“I have been banned from entering the mosque for a week, and the order can be extended,” Sheikh Abbasi told AFP on Tuesday (17 February 2026).

He said he was not informed by Israel of the reason for the ban. The prohibition took effect from Monday.

“I had only returned to Al-Aqsa a month ago after spending a year in hospital following a serious car accident,” Abbasi said.

“This ban is a serious matter for us, because our souls are tied to Al-Aqsa. Al-Aqsa is our life,” he added.

Previously, Israeli authorities had detained the Al-Aqsa Mosque imam, Sheikh Muhammad Ali Abbasi, in occupied East Jerusalem. Israel barred Sheikh Muhammad from entering the mosque compound for one week.

According to Anadolu Agency, the detention was carried out just days before the start of the holy month of Ramadan. The Jerusalem Governorate stated that Sheikh Muhammad Ali Abbasi was detained by Israeli forces and banned from entering the mosque compound for one week.

The statement did not cite any reason for the ban. The move comes amid an Israeli escalation across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.