By order of the Israeli Minister of Defense: Endowment employees transferred to administrative detention for 4 months
Continuing its escalation against employees of the Islamic Endowment Department in Jerusalem, and as part of the systematic targeting of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its worshippers ahead of Ramadan, the Israeli occupation authorities have decided to detain two Endowment employees administratively for four months, under an order from Israeli Minister of Defense Yisrael Katz.
Mohammed Mahmoud, a lawyer from the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem, reported that the occupation authorities have decided to detain Endowment employees Mahdi al-Abbasi and Abdul Rahman al-Sharif administratively for four months.
Lawyer Mahmoud stated that the two young men were detained on Tuesday evening, February 3, 2026. The next day, they had a hearing in the Magistrate's Court, where the judge ordered their release on bail, with the condition that they stay under house arrest for several days and pay a cash guarantee. Nonetheless, the intelligence services requested to stay the decision pending an appeal.
He mentioned that an appeal was submitted hours afterward, leading to a hearing scheduled for Thursday at the District Court. The court dismissed the appeal and ordered their release, but imposed stricter conditions, such as a ban from the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque until March 21, 2026, and raised the bail amount.
He added that the intelligence services quickly requested a halt to the decision's execution, stating they planned to appeal. A few hours afterward, a ruling was made to detain them administratively for four months.
Lawyer Mahmoud stated that the Magistrate's Court and the District Court both issued clear release orders, but the intelligence services requested a freeze each time.
