Head of Hamas’s political bureau Ismail Haneyya on Sunday phoned Sheikh Ekrima Sabri head of the Higher Islamic Council in Occupied Jerusalem expressing his solidarity with him after the Israeli intelligence detained and interrogated him for about six hours.
According to his office Haneyya said that what happened with Sheikh Sabri was an attack on a man of great stature and one of the most respectable religious figures in Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque.”
“Our Palestinian people stand behind their scholars and Mourabitoun (Aqsa defenders) in their efforts to protect Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque” he said.
The Hamas leader also put Sheikh Sabri in the picture of his talks with Egyptian officials about Occupied Jerusalem affirming that he urged the Egyptians to intervene to put an end to Israel’s ongoing violations in the holy city and the Aqsa Mosque.
Earlier Sheikh Sabri stated that intelligence officers questioned him on Sunday about leading prayers at the Bab al-Rahma prayer hall and delivering khutbas (sermons) at different mosques affirming that he refused to sign a paper prohibiting his entry to the Aqsa Mosque.
