The Israeli police have arrested Sheikh Ikrama Sabri, the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque and head of the Higher Islamic Council, following his tribute to the martyred Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
According to Arab media reports, Sheikh Sabri paid homage to Haniyeh during his Friday prayer sermon, which led to his arrest at his residence.
Sheikh Sabri was taken to the Masqubia detention center after the arrest. Before being detained, he spoke to the Arab media, asserting that the accusations of incitement made against him by Israeli Interior Minister Itmar Ben Gweir and National Security Minister Moshe Arbel were unfounded.
Sheikh Sabri defended his tribute, explaining that it was delivered from a religious perspective and questioning how it could be construed as incitement. He also highlighted the irony of being accused of provocation in a context that supposedly values freedom of expression.
The arrest came after several Israeli ministers demanded action against Sheikh Sabri for his praise of Ismail Haniyeh. An Israeli police spokesperson confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine if the imam's statements were indeed provocative, and appropriate measures will be taken based on the findings.
