Israeli occupation forces detained Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, shortly after he delivered the Friday sermon at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to the Islamic Waqf Department.

The arrest took place within the mosque’s courtyards following the conclusion of Friday prayers. Sheikh Hussein was forcibly removed from the area and taken through the Moroccan Gate, one of the main entry points used by Israeli police to access the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Local sources reported that the Mufti was detained following a sermon in which he strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli policy of starvation against the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, where humanitarian conditions have continued to deteriorate under a months-long blockade and military assault.

In a coordinated operation, a special unit of Israeli police also stormed the mosque’s audio control room, reportedly cutting off and seizing equipment, while simultaneously raiding the offices of the mosque’s chief guard and director. The motive for these additional raids remains unclear but appears linked to Sheikh Hussein’s sermon and vocal criticism of Israeli policies.

The Islamic Waqf, which administers the Al-Aqsa Mosque under Jordanian custodianship, condemned the detention, calling it a provocative violation of religious freedoms and a dangerous escalation in the Israeli occupation’s repeated intrusions into Islamic holy sites.

Sheikh Hussein has long been a prominent religious figure and vocal critic of Israeli policies in occupied Jerusalem and across Palestinian territories. His detention is expected to spark further condemnation from Palestinian and international religious authorities.

At the time of this report, there has been no official comment from Israeli police regarding the reason for his arrest or his current whereabouts. (ILKHA)