Israeli authorities have initiated the trial of Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the prominent imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, on charges of incitement. The first hearing took place on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Israeli authorities and Palestinian religious leaders. The charges, filed in August 2024, stem from two condolence speeches Sabri delivered in 2022 and his public mourning of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh following his assassination in 2024. Sabri’s legal team argues that the case is part of a broader campaign of political, religious, and ideological persecution targeting the imam. Khaled Zabarka, head of Sabri’s defense team, described the trial as ‘the embodiment of racist persecution’ and accused Israeli authorities of attempting to silence influential Palestinian voices. Sabri, 86, a former grand mufti of Jerusalem and head of the Supreme Islamic Council, has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian causes and the Islamic claim to Al-Aqsa Mosque. His trial coincides with an intensifying Israeli crackdown on Palestinian access to the mosque, with increasing restrictions imposed on worshippers and imams. Zabarka highlighted that Israeli authorities have banned numerous individuals, including Sabri, from entering the site, often for mentioning Gaza in sermons. He condemned these actions as ‘an outright intrusion into the Friday sermons at Al-Aqsa Mosque,’ warning of a concerning new trend. Israel’s control of East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, continues to violate international law, which prohibits occupying powers from asserting sovereignty or making permanent changes to occupied territories.