Israel arrests Aqsa Mosque Imam Ekrema Sabri after eulogizing Ismail Haniyeh

Israeli occupation forces arrested Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem, on Friday afternoon following his eulogy for Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh assassinated by Israel in Tehran during the Friday sermon at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Local sources confirmed to The New Arab's sister publication Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israeli police raided Sheikh Sabri's home in the Al-Suwwana neighborhood, east of the Old City of Jerusalem, and took him to the Moscobiyeh detention center.

Before his arrest, Sheikh Sabri told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the accusations of incitement against him, led by Israeli Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and National Security Minister Moshe Arbel, were unfounded.

"What I said in my Friday sermon was a religious eulogy and condolence, not incitement," Sabri said. "Where is the freedom of expression they boast about?"

Lawyer Khaled Zabarqa, a member of Sheikh Sabri's defence team, attended the Friday prayers and heard the sermon. He said, "I did not find any incitement in Sheikh Sabri's statements. The real incitement is from extremist Jewish groups targeting him and using legal tools against him."

Several Israeli ministers and Knesset members called for Sheikh Sabri's arrest and the revocation of his residency permit following his eulogy for Haniyeh.

National Security Minister Ben-Gvir instructed Israeli police to investigate Sabri, while Interior Minister Moshe Arbel pushed for revoking Sabri's temporary residency (blue ID card).

In a memo to the Knesset, Arbel accused Sabri of committing security offenses and breaching trust. "Sabri holds a permanent residency permit in Israel, which has not prevented him from inciting against the state for years," Arbel wrote. He condemned Sabri for eulogizing Haniyeh, whom he labeled a "terrorist leader responsible for the massacre on October 7."

Arbel announced his intention to revoke Sabri's permanent residency, citing repeated anti-state actions. "Article 11(a) of the Entry into Israel Law grants the Interior Minister the authority to revoke residency for actions deemed a breach of trust, such as terrorism or incitement, without needing a legal conviction," he added.

A spokesperson for Israeli police confirmed that authorities are investigating Sabri's sermon for potential incitement and will act based on the findings.