By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, cautioned on Saturday against direct Israeli interference in the mosque’s management and the imposition of sovereignty over it, as the mosque remains closed for the 36th consecutive day.

In a statement reported by the Palestinian news agency Shihab, Sheikh Ekrima expressed deep regret over the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque without valid reason, noting that hundreds of thousands of Muslims are being deprived of performing prayers there during the holy month of Ramadan.

The preacher criticized the security pretexts used by Israel to keep the mosque closed, pointing out that other mosques and markets across Palestine remain open. He emphasized that closing Al-Aqsa Mosque is both religiously and legally unacceptable and called on Arab and Muslim nations to urge their governments to press for its reopening to worshippers.

Sheikh Ekrima underlined the sacredness of Quds, comparing it to Mecca and Medina, and stressed that Al-Aqsa Mosque holds a status similar to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, highlighting that Quds belongs to the Muslim community, not only to Palestinians.

Source: Yemen News Agency