Jerusalem Grand Mufti Detained and Temporarily Barred From Al-Aqsa Mosque
JERUSALEM, July 10, 2026 — Israeli authorities briefly detained Jerusalem Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Hussein on Friday before issuing an order prohibiting him from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for one week, according to the Jerusalem Governorate.
Officials said the grand mufti was taken into custody shortly after delivering the Friday sermon and leading congregational prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. He was later released, but authorities imposed a temporary ban preventing him from accessing the holy site.
Israeli police did not immediately issue a public statement regarding the detention or the restriction order. Similar entry bans have previously been imposed on religious leaders and mosque preachers at the Al-Aqsa compound.
The incident occurred as tens of thousands of Palestinian worshippers gathered at the mosque for Friday prayers, one of the largest weekly religious gatherings at the site.
The latest development comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Palestinian officials have reported an increase in Israeli security operations and visits to the site in recent months, raising concerns over access to one of Islam’s holiest places.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Israeli forces conducted multiple incursions into the Al-Aqsa compound during June, while thousands of Israeli visitors entered the site through the Mughrabi Gate under police protection during designated visiting hours.
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