Israeli Police Extend Bans on Sheikhs Kamal Khatib and Raed Salah from Al-Aqsa
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
Israeli police have extended the exclusion of Sheikhs Kamal Khatib and Raed Salah from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for another six months, from October 2026 to April 2027. The decision follows a hearing and comes after a previous six-month ban expired. The sheikhs are prominent Palestinian religious leaders who have previously faced similar restrictions, citing security concerns and their statements affirming Islamic sovereignty over the site.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli police extended bans on Sheikhs Kamal Khatib and Raed Salah from Al-Aqsa for six months.
- The new exclusion period runs from October 26, 2026, to April 26, 2027.
- The decision followed a police hearing regarding the sheikhs' access to the holy site.
- Sheikh Khatib affirmed Al-Aqsa's exclusive Muslim status and rejected Israeli claims.
- Both sheikhs are prominent Palestinian religious leaders who have faced prior bans.
- Previous bans were justified by Israeli police citing security and public safety concerns.
Israeli police have extended the exclusion of Sheikhs Kamal Khatib and Raed Salah from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for an additional six months. The new ban, effective from October 26, 2026, to April 26, 2027, follows the expiration of a previous six-month exclusion. Sheikh Kamal Khatib announced the decision, stating it would not alter his conviction that Al-Aqsa is exclusively for Muslims and that non-Muslims have no right to any part of it. He reiterated his stance against Israeli claims regarding the mosque, asserting it has never been a temple and will not become one, drawing a parallel between the end of Crusader presence and his belief that Israeli presence will also cease.
The renewal of the ban came after a hearing held by Israeli police at the Al-Qashla police station in Jerusalem. The sheikhs were summoned days before their previous ban expired to discuss restrictions on their access to the mosque and its surroundings. Prior to the hearing, authorities had imposed a temporary seven-day ban on their entry to the mosque and its vicinity, with a potential three-day extension pending a final decision. Previous reports indicated the summons was related to statements and publications by the sheikhs affirming Islamic sovereignty over the mosque and rejecting Israeli control.
This is not the first time the sheikhs have faced such restrictions. In May 2026, Israeli police issued a six-month ban against both Khatib and Salah, citing security and public safety concerns under police authority. Sheikh Raed Salah previously served a 15-year ban from Al-Aqsa that ended in 2022. Both figures are prominent religious leaders within the Palestinian community in Israel; Salah formerly headed the Islamic Movement before its ban in Israel in 2015, while Khatib leads the Liberties Committee of the Higher Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens in Israel.