Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, Al-Aqsa Mosque Imam and former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, warned of the accelerated measures that Israel is implementing to Judaize Jerusalem, taking advantage of the international circumstances to carry out its aggressive plans.

“The Israeli settlement projects that intended to be established between Jerusalem and Bethlehem will enable Israel to shut down the city and besiege it tightly. It is "more severe than the siege of Gaza" and will lead to isolate Jerusalem from its surroundings,” Sheikh Sabri alerted.

He added, “Israel was able to paralyse the movement in the city under the pandemic of Coronavirus on one hand, and their holidays on the other hand. It relies on the policy of emptying the Old City of its residents under the pretext of not residing in it.”

“Israel’s primary goal is to reduce the number of worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque through scrutiny, restrictions and confiscation citizens identities,” Sheikh Ekrimah confirmed.

He said that the normalization would not serve Jerusalem, because those who signed this decision do not want to serve the city, but rather want to serve their interests and desires.

“Al-Aqsa Mosque is opened for all Muslims, however, any visit to it via coordination with Israeli occupation means recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over Al-Aqsa and giving it legitimacy,” Sheikh Sabri highlited.

He confirmed his support for every seeker of the end of the Israeli occupation without any reservation. He said, "We do not need to support Jerusalem as much as we need to end the occupation. Jerusalem is everyone’s responsibility and it is wrong to consider it only as Palestinian issue, and Palestinians have to solve their problems themselves."

Judaization of Al-Aqsa Mosque

“The settlers demanded an increase in the storming period of Al-Aqsa for 40 minutes beyond the scheduled times for non-Muslims and foreigners. The last of these attacks was the demands of extremist Jews to establish a Talmudic school in the eastern square of the mosque,” Al-Aqsa’s Imam added.

He indicated that these groups impose their demands and desires on the Israeli government, due to the existence of an alliance between the Likud Party and extremist groups.

The policy of deportation from Al-Aqsa Mosque is illegal, inhuman, and inconsistent with freedom of worship, and an aggressive order that contradicts the international laws.

Sheikh Sabri denounced the cruelty of Israel against the Palestinian children by arresting and beating them, and targeting them with live and rubber bullets in their faces. “20 children in the town of Isawiya lost their eyes within one year, with the intention of deterring the younger generation from the resistance,” he said.

The Palestinians are a cohesive people who are not affected by political differences because they are the right holders and are part of the Arab people and the Islamic nation. Sheikh Sabri sent a message to the Arab and Islamic nation that they must be united as they used to be.