Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem, has warned that the increasing settler raids into Al-Aqsa Mosque—carried out under the protection of Israeli forces—are part of a deliberate and systematic plan by the Israeli authorities to undermine the Islamic Waqf’s authority over the site.
Sheikh Sabri stressed that the frequency of these incursions is growing daily, with clear support and encouragement from Israel’s far-right government.
“This confirms what we’ve always said: the occupation covets Al-Aqsa and seeks to Judaize it step by step by stripping the Islamic Waqf of its authority to manage the mosque,” he said.
Sabri expressed firm rejection of all Israeli plans and schemes targeting Al-Aqsa, warning that the current war and volatile regional conditions could be exploited as a cover for further escalations at the holy site through what he described as “Israeli deceptive tactics.”
He held the Israeli government fully responsible for violating the sanctity of Al-Aqsa and called on Arab and Muslim nations to shoulder their responsibility in protecting the mosque, stating that Al-Aqsa is a trust in their hands.
Sheikh Sabri reaffirmed the unshakable Palestinian and Islamic religious right to Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem, declaring that this right is non-negotiable and that defending the mosque will continue under all circumstances.
According to monitoring by Jerusalem-based organizations, 1,179 Israeli settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque last week under heavy police protection.
Throughout 2025, a total of 73,721 settlers raided Al-Aqsa—marking a 26.8% increase from 2024, when 58,149 settlers took part in such incursions.
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