Occupation police detain Al-Aqsa Mosque Imam
Wafa, Jerusalem
Published: 18 Feb 2026, 11:44 AM
Sheikh Mohammad Ali Al-Abbasi. Photo: Collected
Israeli occupation police detained Sheikh Mohammad Ali Al-Abbasi, the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, on Monday evening from inside the mosque’s courtyards in occupied Jerusalem, according to local sources.
comes amid escalating measures by the occupation authorities targeting Al-Aqsa Mosque, which include restrictions on imams, preachers, and al-Murabitin — those maintaining a constant presence at the mosque — limitations on the entry of worshippers, and intensified incursions by colonists under heavy protection from Israeli police.
Occupied Jerusalem, particularly the Old City and the area around Al-Aqsa Mosque, is experiencing rising tensions due to strict security measures imposed by the Israeli authorities, including detentions and restrictions on religious figures and local activists.