Although the Sheikh's health prevented his presence, the prosecution has started hearing witnesses in the Ekrima Sabri case, with sessions set to continue in November
The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court conducted its initial hearing on Monday in the case filed by the Israeli authorities against Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, on charges of "incitement."
Sheikh Sabri's defense team stated that the hearing featured testimony from a witness for the Israeli prosecution, who allegedly tried to implicate Sheikh Sabri in his involvement in mourning gatherings and his remarks.
During the lengthy session, the defense team objected to the testimony, claiming it was too general, not directly relevant to the case, and violated procedural rules for witness testimony.
The court agreed with the defense's objection and canceled the hearing for the testimony mentioned earlier.
At the end of the session, the court chose to postpone the case and scheduled a new date for the continuation of the hearing of evidence and prosecution witnesses on November 23, 2026.
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri was absent from the hearing due to health reasons, but the court chose to continue with the case despite his absence.
In June 2026, the Israeli Public Prosecution brought an indictment against Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, accusing him of "encouraging terrorism and incitement"—charges based on his statements, which included praising martyrs and visiting their families.
