Israel bans Grand Mufti of Jerusalem from Al-Aqsa Mosque after he condemns Gaza starvation

Israeli authorities have issued a six-month ban on Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, preventing him from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Wafa news agency reported.

The Israeli authorities extended the ban after the expiry of an earlier eight-day order issued on 27 July, according to the Jerusalem Governorate, citing lawyer Khaldoun Najm. The new order, issued on Wednesday, extends that ban to six months.

The decision came after Sheikh Hussein delivered a Friday sermon condemning Israel’s starvation policy against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.