Israeli forces arrest Al-Aqsa Sheikh on way to Friday prayers

Israeli forces have arrested an Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem as he made his way through the Old City for Friday prayers. Sheikh Hamed al-Beitawi is also a deputy in the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Sheikh Hamed’s wife reported that she received a phone call from her husband at about 5:30 on Friday morning to tell her that he had been arrested. However, the conversation was cut short when Israeli forces stopped the Sheikh from speaking.

---

The Sheikh’s wife placed full responsibility for his life on the Israelis and demanded his immediate release. “My husband has committed no offence by entering the city of Jerusalem or by trying to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” she said.

Sheikh Hamed al-Beitawi has been arrested by Israel on numerous occasions, the most recent before today during Ramadan last year, again in the city of Jerusalem. The Israeli occupation authorities once issued a banning order against him that has prevented him from preaching at Al-Aqsa Mosque for more than 10 years.