Israeli forces arrest Jerusalem’s leading religious figures

SANAA, Feb. 24 (YPA)- Israeli occupation forces stepped up attacks in the occupied city of Jerusalem and launched a campaign of arrests on Sunday morning, arresting prominent leaders, including the Chairman of the Council of the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem.

Israeli occupation forces arrested Sheikh Abdel-Azeem Salhab, chairman of the Council of the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, from his home in Sur Baher, as well as arresting Sheikh Najeh Bakrat, deputy director general of the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, sources said.

In the same on context, the Magistrate’s Court in West Jerusalem last night postponed the release of three leaders after an appeal by the Israeli occupation police on charges of breaching the court order and disturbing public order because of the opening of Gate of Mercy at the Al-Aqsa mosque last Friday.

The three detainees, accused of opening the door of Mercy, are the director of the Jerusalem captive club Nasser Arch, Haj Ali Ajaj and Hosni al-Kilani.

The Israeli occupation police on Saturday extended the arrest of the guard of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Samer Kabbani, on Sunday for his appearance before Magistrate Court in Jerusalem.

On Saturday afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces arrested the guard Samer Kabbani while he was leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Hamas also commented on the Israeli arrests of prominent Jerusalem figures.

“The occupation will not be delivered easily after its defeat in Bab al-Rahma,” A member of Hamas political bureau Hossam Badran wrote in a tweet on Twitter, adding that “the leaders and personalities of Jerusalem are now being arrested after they have targeted the youths

According to Badran, “The occupation does not want us to win or advance even in part or in progress,” adding that, believing that “the plan of occupation is to break the Palestinian will first”.

E.M