Al-Aqsa Imam Arrested Amid Rising Tensions

Israeli police have arrested Sheikh Muhammad Ali Al-Abbasi, the imam of the revered Al-Aqsa Mosque, in a development that has heightened tensions in the occupied city of East Jerusalem. The arrest took place on Monday evening inside the mosque compound, according to local sources cited by the Middle East Monitor.

The exact reasons for Sheikh Al-Abbasi’s detention remain unclear, and Israeli authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the legal basis or potential charges against him. Eyewitnesses report that the arrest was carried out by Israeli officers within the mosque’s courtyard.

Residents and local activists have noted a pattern of increasing restrictions imposed on Al-Aqsa’s religious leaders and worshippers in recent months. These measures include tighter policing, limitations on mosque access, and heightened security presence, which critics say are intended to facilitate greater entry of Jewish settlers into the compound. The Old City of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa precinct have become flashpoints of unrest, with reports of arrests and forced removals of religious figures and local rights activists.

The arrest coincides with the start of the holy month of Ramadan across Palestine and much of the Middle East on Wednesday, 18 February. On Tuesday evening, 17 February, Palestinians observed the first Tarawih prayers of the month, with thousands gathering at Al-Aqsa Mosque for worship.

However, the observance of prayers has been increasingly challenging under the current security measures. Young Palestinians have faced restrictions entering the mosque compound, and Israeli police have maintained a heavy presence around the site during prayer times. Witnesses reported that the prayer halls and open courtyards were fully occupied, while Sheikh Yusuf Abu Sneine, the mosque’s khateeb, led the congregation. Footage circulating online shows Israeli police overseeing worshippers throughout the service.

Key Details of the Arrest

The situation at Al-Aqsa remains tense, with the intersection of religious observance, political conflict, and security operations continuing to fuel unrest in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City. Observers warn that restrictions on worshippers and the detention of religious figures may further exacerbate tensions during the sacred month of Ramadan.