JERUSALEM, Sunday, March 02, 2019 (WAFA) – Israeli police handed today the Chairman of Awqaf Council in Jerusalem, Sheikh Abdul-Azim Salhab, an order banning him from being at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for 40 days.

In the meantime, police handed an order to Arafat Naib, an Islamic Awqaf guard of al-Aqsa Mosque, banning him from being at the holy site for six months.

Police also handed Nasser Qous, a Fatah official in Jerusalem, an order banning him from being at the holy Mosque for 40 days.

Last week, Israeli police arrested Salhab and other Awqaf officials against the backdrop of the reopening of Bab al-Rahma building inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, which had been closed for 16 years.

Some of the Awqaf employees have also received orders banning them from being at the holy Mosque for periods ranging between one week and six months.

The Islamic Awqaf department and Palestinian institutions have insisted on keeping the Bab al-Rahma prayer area open for Muslim worship after it became clear to them that Israel wants to keep it off for Muslims in order to give Jewish fanatics, who call for rebuilding their temple inside Al-Aqsa compound, free access and presence in the area.

M.N