Five days after their six-month expulsion ended, the occupation authorities summoned Sheikh Raed Salah and Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib, a move that could precede barring them from Al-Aqsa Mosque
The Israeli occupation authorities, through the Al-Qishla police station in Jerusalem’s Old City, have summoned Sheikh Raed Salah and Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib to appear before police tomorrow morning, Monday (October 26). The hearing will address restrictions on their access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and its entrances and may consider barring them from the site.
According to the summons, the hearing will address restrictions on the two Sheikhs' access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and its entrances. These restrictions follow statements and publications in which they emphasize Islamic sovereignty over Al-Aqsa, oppose Israeli control, deny the occupation’s legitimate claim to sovereignty over the site, and seek to encourage resistance against the occupation.
The orders impose an immediate, temporary ban preventing Sheikh Raed Salah and Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, its entrances, or the surrounding areas. Official documents received by the two sheikhs last Thursday (October 22) state that the restriction will initially remain in effect for seven days. The area commander may extend it by an additional three days, for a total of 10 consecutive days. The ban covers the period from the issuance of the summons until a final decision is made following the hearing scheduled for tomorrow morning, Monday.
These summonses were issued five days after a six-month ban preventing the two Sheikhs from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque expired. The ban, which began on April 17, ended on October 17.
