Israeli Forces Detain Sheikh Rani Abu Sbeih at Al-Aqsa Mosque Gate During Friday Prayers
Tensions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, occupied by Israel, have escalated again during the holy month of Ramadan. Israeli forces reportedly detained a prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Rani Abu Sbeih, directly at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque as thousands of worshippers prepared to perform prayers on Friday 27 February evening.
According to reports from the Jerusalem Governorate, Sheikh Abu Sbeih was intercepted at one of the mosque’s entrance gates before being taken to an interrogation centre in the Bab al-Khalil area. This detention has become a symbol of escalating Israeli repressive measures in the territory.
Since Friday morning, the atmosphere in Jerusalem’s Old City has been tightly controlled. Israeli military deployed additional personnel and erected iron barricades on main roads leading to the Al-Aqsa complex. These restrictions targeted residents from the West Bank, including elderly citizens, many of whom were turned back at checkpoints in Qalandia and Bethlehem.
“Despite strict restrictions, approximately 100,000 worshippers still managed to perform Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa,” stated the Jerusalem Governorate’s official statement.
Beyond the detention of the religious figure, Israeli occupation authorities issued over 280 entry ban orders against Palestinian residents. Those displaced were forced to perform prayers at the nearby Bab al-Rahma Cemetery, adjacent to the mosque complex.
The escalation did not stop there. Security forces also reportedly blocked the delivery of food for breaking the fast (iftar) and pre-dawn meals (sahur), disrupted medical clinic operations within the complex, prohibited the erection of protective tents for worshippers, and carried out field inspections and detentions of young people during night prayers (tarawih).
The press also faced pressure. Several journalists experienced intimidation, interrogation summons, and expulsion from locations to prevent coverage of human rights violations on the ground.
The Jerusalem Governorate emphasised that these actions constitute a systematic attempt to alter the legal and historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque. They have called upon the international community to hold accountable those responsible for repeated violations of religious freedom in the holy city.