This archive report was first published on 8 June 2020.
On June 7, 2020, Palestine strongly condemned Israel's decision to issue deportation orders for Palestinians away from East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, a move that has sparked widespread outrage.
According to reports, the Israeli authorities have issued a four-month ban on the grand preacher of the Al-Aqsa mosque, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, from entering the holy site.
Reacting to the development, Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's Executive Committee, accused Israel of taking concerted and systematic efforts to execute its land grab plans and mute Palestinian voices.
"Once again, Israel is bent on demonstrating its contempt for freedom of worship and religions, as demonstrably clear in its increased violations of the Palestinian people's freedom of worship, especially in occupied Jerusalem," Ashrawi said.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation official called on Israel to respect the status of the holy site, as a place of worship, and to refrain from actions that stoke sectarian discord.
