Israel bans Al-Aqsa Imam from entering West Bank

Israeli occupation intelligence forces yesterday banned the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Ekrema Sabri, from entering the occupied West Bank for four months.

According to the sheikh’s son, Ammar, Sabri was summoned to police headquarters in Jerusalem early yesterday.

“The Israeli authorities handed him a court order banning him from entering the West Bank for four months for ‘suspected links with terrorist organisations that harm Israel’s security’,” Ammar said.

Earlier this month, the Israeli occupation authorities issued a one-month travel ban against Sabri.

The Imam told the Palestinian Information Centre that the “oppressive, illegal, and arbitrary” ban can be renewed for another four months.

Read: Israel bans Al-Aqsa guards from site for a week

He added that this is the fifth such order issued against him in recent years.

Sabri has long called for Palestinians to rise up to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque and stand against the occupation.