Israel is set to put Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the chief preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, on trial over alleged “incitement.” The 86-year-old cleric is scheduled to appear before the Jerusalem Magistrate Court on Tuesday (18 November), according to a report by Anadolu Agency.

The court will review an indictment filed by the Israeli Public Prosecution, accusing Sabri of expressing condolences over the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh—killed in an Israeli strike in Iran in 2024—and offering prayers for Palestinians shot dead in the occupied West Bank in 2022.

In August 2024, Israeli police barred Sabri from entering Al-Aqsa for six months after he publicly mourned Haniyeh’s death. His legal team argues that the move is politically motivated and driven by right-wing groups seeking to target the prominent cleric.

They claim Sabri has long faced travel bans, restrictions on entering Al-Aqsa, and even demolition orders on his home—actions they describe as part of a broader pattern of political, religious, and ideological persecution.

Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, have previously acted against Sabri, frequently accusing him of delivering pro-Gaza sermons.

Al-Aqsa, Islam’s third-holiest site, sits in a location Jews refer to as the “Temple Mount,” believed to have housed two ancient Jewish temples. Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Arab–Israeli war and unilaterally annexed the city in 1980—a move not recognized by the international community.

Israel has closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in occupied Hebron to Muslim worshippers and imposed a strict curfew across the Old City, citing Jewish religious festivities as the reason for the restrictions. The measures have disrupted daily life for many Palestinians, leaving numerous residents unable to return home.

Aref Jaber, a member of the Hebron Defense Committee, told Anadolu Agency that Israeli forces sealed all military checkpoints on Friday morning and completely halted movement in and out of the Old City. As a result, many Palestinians were forced to spend the night at relatives’ homes in other parts of Hebron. He added that hundreds of Israeli settlers, escorted by heavily armed soldiers, held two “provocative” marches on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Jaber alleged that the curfew forms part of a broader Israeli effort to seize full control of the Ibrahimi Mosque and convert the remaining Muslim section into a synagogue. The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs reported that since early 2025, Israel has kept the mosque’s historic Sukk Gate and eastern main entrance closed daily and has even covered its windows.

Situated in Hebron’s Old City, the Ibrahimi Mosque is under full Israeli control. Around 400 settlers live in the surrounding area, guarded by approximately 1,500 soldiers. Following the 1994 massacre of Muslim worshippers, Israel divided the mosque—allocating 63% to Jewish worship and 37% to Muslims. During major religious festivals, the mosque is fully closed to one side.

However, since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the full access previously granted to Muslim worshippers has not been reinstated.

More than 22,000 people have been arrested across Saudi Arabia in a week-long crackdown on violations related to residency, labour regulations and border security. The figures were released on Saturday by the Saudi Press Agency.

According to official data, a total of 14,027 individuals were detained for residency law violations, while 4,781 people were arrested for attempting to cross the border illegally. An additional 3,348 were held for labour-related offences.

Of the 1,924 people caught trying to enter the country illegally, 62 percent were Ethiopian nationals, 37 percent Yemenis, and 1 percent from other countries.

Authorities also arrested 32 individuals attempting to leave Saudi Arabia for neighbouring states and detained 31 others accused of transporting or sheltering violators.

The Ministry of Interior warned that aiding illegal entry—by transporting, harbouring or providing shelter—could result in up to 15 years in prison, fines reaching 1 million riyals, and confiscation of vehicles and property.