Israeli court orders Bab al-Rahma shut in a week

Occupied Jerusalem (QNN) – The Israeli court in occupied Jerusalem will close Bab al-Rahma building if the Islamic Waqf Council, a religious body appointed by Jordan to oversee the Al-Aqsa compound, doesn’t respond to the Israeli prosecution’s request and appear before the court in one week, according to Haaretz.

The Israeli court on Monday warned to shut the building in a week, which was re-opened by Palestinian worshippers last week after a 16-years-long closure by the Israeli authorities.

Since the reopening of Bab al-Rahma building, the Israeli authorities have extended restrictions against Palestinian worshippers, such as banning a number of al-Aqsa Mosque guards and Palestinian activists from entering the area for months.

The Israeli police on Sunday have extended bans on top Palestinian officials who oversee Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa compound from entering the holy site. The officials are head of Islamic Waqf Council Sheikh Abdel-Azeem Salhab and his deputy, Sheikh Najeh Bkerat.

Bab al-Rahma building had been ordered shut in 2003 under the pretext of it being used by an association with links to Hamas movement.