The Israeli authorities on Sunday handed a number of Palestinians working in al-Aqsa Mosque orders banning them from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for different periods.
The Prisoners Media Office said in a press statement that the head of the Islamic Awqaf Council Abdul-Adhim Salhab was ordered to stay away from al-Aqsa Mosque for 40 days and his deputy Najeh Bukairat for four months.
Meanwhile al-Aqsa guard Arafat Najib received a six-month entry ban and the director of the Palestinian Prisoner Society in Jerusalem Naser Qaws received a 40-day ban.
The Israeli police arrested Salhab after the opening of Bab al-Rahma prayer area in al-Aqsa Mosque a week ago and ordered him not to enter the site for a week. The ban has been extended for 40 days.
Many Awqaf employees and Aqsa guards have been arrested by the police and ordered to stay away from al-Aqsa Mosque after they managed to open Bab al-Rahma following 16 years of closure.
