KUALA LUMPUR – The fragile peace in occupied East Jerusalem faces a severe test following the detention of Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abbasi, a prominent Imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, by Israeli security forces on Monday. The arrest, which took place within the mosque’s sprawling compound, has ignited fears of a widespread eruption of violence as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches.
The incident unfolded against a backdrop of increasing friction at the site, the third-holiest in Islam. Local witnesses reported that the Imam’s detention followed the entry of approximately 222 Jewish settlers into the courtyard under heavy police escort—a move viewed by Palestinian worshippers as a direct provocation.
The detention of Sheikh Al-Abbasi appears to be part of a broader, intensifying campaign of restrictions. Data from the Jerusalem Regional Administration indicates that since the beginning of 2026, Israeli authorities have barred at least 250 Palestinians from entering the Al-Aqsa compound. These exclusion orders often target religious leaders, activists, and mosque employees, effectively thinning the presence of those tasked with maintaining the site’s sanctity.
In a related move, Fadi Alyan, a veteran security guard at the mosque and a former Palestinian prisoner, was issued a six-month ban from the premises this week. Critics argue these targeted removals are designed to weaken the administrative oversight of the Jerusalem Waqf Council, the Jordanian-appointed body responsible for the site.
As the Palestinian Authority (PA) warns of “tensions reaching a breaking point,” the logistical preparations for Ramadan have also come under fire. The Waqf Council reported that Israeli forces have actively dismantled or blocked the installation of essential infrastructure intended for the hundreds of thousands of worshippers expected to gather for evening Tarawih prayers.
Key obstructions include the prohibition of large umbrellas designed to protect pilgrims from the elements and the prevention of temporary medical clinics within the compound. “By blocking basic humanitarian services and religious infrastructure, the occupation is creating a pressure cooker environment,” a representative of the Jerusalem Regional Administration stated in a report by the Wafa news agency.
The religious friction is further exacerbated by political maneuvers within the Israeli government. On Sunday, Amit Halevi, a member of the Israeli Knesset, conducted what Palestinian officials described as a “provocative patrol” through the site.
Halevi has publicly campaigned for a radical shift in the “status quo”—the decades-old agreement that governs the site. He has specifically called for the formalization of Jewish prayer within the compound throughout the month of Ramadan. Such a move would dismantle the long-held understanding that the site is reserved for Islamic worship, a shift that Palestinian leaders warn would lead to “uncontrollable consequences” across the region.
With Ramadan set to begin later this week, the city remains on high alert. The Palestinian Authority has called on the international community to intervene, stressing that the combination of religious restrictions, the detention of faith leaders, and political incursions has created a volatile atmosphere that threatens to spill over beyond the walls of the Old City.
As of Tuesday morning, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abbasi remains in custody, and the gates of Al-Aqsa continue to be governed by a heavy security presence, leaving the faithful to wonder if this year’s holy month will be defined by prayer or protest.
