Israel summons Al-Aqsa preacher Sheikh Ekrima Sabri

Israeli authorities on Sunday summoned the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Ekrima Sabri for questioning, as their forces raided his home, local reports said.

Palestinian eyewitnesses close to Sabri, the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, told The New Arab that a number of the Israeli forces raided his house in the dawn of Sunday, asking him to show up for questioning during the day at the Russian Compound in the city.

"It is not the first time for the Sheikh Sabri to face such illegal Israeli procedures, which will keep him inside his house without bearing his responsibility towards our holy city," the eyewitness said.

Since the beginning of 2021, the Israeli forces had arrested Sheikh Sabri several times and they prevented him from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in January.

Meanwhile, in 2017, Israeli forces injured the Sheikh during protests that erupted against the placement of metal detectors at the entrances of Al-Aqsa.

Sabri is considered the most famous Palestinian cleric who has always stood against the Israeli violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling on the Palestinians to protect it from storming by Israeli settlers.

He had challenged all the Israeli attempts to silence the call to prayer in the mosques of occupied Jerusalem and faced the unprecedented decision to close Al-Aqsa courtyards in front of worshipers.