Recent Actions at Al-Aqsa Compound
On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, Israeli authorities issued summons for interrogation and banning orders from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to several Palestinian citizens in Jerusalem. Among those targeted were a Sharia Judge and multiple mosque guards. These actions are part of a broader pattern of restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on Palestinian presence and access to the holy site.
Details of Summons and Banning Orders
According to reports from the Jerusalem Governorate, the Sharia Judge of Jerusalem, Sheikh Iyad al-Abbasi, was summoned for interrogation. Also summoned were Jamil al-Abbasi, a former prisoner, and Nihad al-Abbasi, a young man. All three are residents of Silwan, a town located south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and were ordered to appear for questioning at a detention center in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
In addition to the summons, several individuals received banning orders from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound:
- Former prisoner Mufid al-Abbasi, also from Silwan, was served a banning order for a renewable period of one week.
- Al-Aqsa Mosque guard Hamza Khalaf was issued a decision banning him from the holy site for six months.
- Al-Aqsa Mosque guard Fadi Aliyan, from the town of Issawiya, was released on the condition of a one-week renewable ban from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, following his arrest.
Arrests and Extended Detentions of Mosque Guards
The recent actions also included arrests and extended detentions of Al-Aqsa Mosque guards. The detention of guards Mahdi al-Abbasi and Abdul Rahman al-Sharif was extended until Thursday, February 5, 2026. Both had been arrested the previous day after raids on their homes by occupation forces.
Broader Context of Restrictions and Bans
These incidents occur within a context of increasing restrictions by Israeli authorities on Palestinian access to and presence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Reports indicate a growing number of banning orders and summons targeting Palestinian religious figures, activists, and guards. In January 2026 alone, 100 banishment orders were recorded, with 95 specifically from Al-Aqsa Mosque. These orders are sometimes delivered via WhatsApp messages.
Palestinian figures, such as researcher Ahmad al-Safadi, have faced bans for documenting Israeli violations in the mosque compound. Preachers like Sheikh Muhammad Salim have also been banned for sermons critical of Israeli policies. The ongoing measures are perceived by some as attempts to alter Jerusalem's identity and undermine the Palestinian presence.
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