Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, head of the Higher Islamic Council in occupied Jerusalem, has warned that Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are entering a highly dangerous and decisive phase amid what he described as a complete absence of deterrence against Israel’s extremist policies.

In press remarks on Monday, Sheikh Sabri said that the holy city is enduring a “painful and perilous stage” as Israel’s far-right government continues its practices aimed at undermining the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque and reshaping Jerusalem’s identity.

“Jerusalem is undergoing a painful stage as a result of Israel’s extremist practices,” Sheikh Sabri stated, stressing that Palestinian residents are paying a heavy price for their steadfast defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque. He added that Jerusalemites have been left abandoned, facing these policies amid what he described as total international silence and inaction.

Sheikh Sabri pointed to the ongoing policy of home demolitions, forced displacement, and uprooting of Palestinian families, noting that these measures have escalated significantly in recent times. He said the campaign is being carried out under the supervision and encouragement of extremist Jewish groups that now wield direct influence within the Israeli government.

According to Sheikh Sabri, these groups are actively involved in the demolition of Palestinian homes and the harassment and abuse of Jerusalem’s residents. He accused them of inciting destruction and killing, while continuing repeated incursions and acts of desecration against the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“These violations are being committed openly, in full view of the entire world, without any serious or effective action to stop them,” he said. Sheikh Sabri described the situation as part of a systematic and organized war aimed at erasing the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem and on their land.

He warned that the continued lack of accountability and international pressure emboldens Israeli authorities and extremist groups to intensify their actions, placing Jerusalem and its Islamic holy sites at unprecedented risk. (ILKHA)