Local sources report that Israeli police detained Sheikh Al-Abbasi from inside the mosque compound, though no official reason for the arrest or details about any legal action have been disclosed. Israeli authorities have yet to issue a formal statement regarding the incident.
Observers note that recent restrictions on Al-Aqsa’s imams and khateebs, stricter entry regulations for worshippers, and increased Israeli security presence have coincided with a rise in visits by Israeli settlers to the mosque grounds. This has contributed to heightened tensions in Jerusalem’s Old City and the Al-Aqsa compound. Reports of arrests and expulsions of religious figures and local activists have also emerged.
Meanwhile, the holy month of Ramadan began across Palestine and much of the Middle East on Wednesday. On Tuesday, thousands of Palestinians attended the first Taraweeh prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
However, young Palestinians faced obstacles entering the compound due to restrictions, and Israeli police surrounded the mosque throughout the prayers. Witnesses reported that the prayer halls and open courtyards were full, with Sheikh Yusuf Abu Sneine leading the Taraweeh prayers. Online footage shows Israeli police monitoring the crowd and overseeing security during the prayers.
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