Jerusalem: The Israeli occupation authorities have barred journalist Firas al-Debs, an employee of the Islamic Waqf Department, from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for a period of three months. This decision, which was reported by local sources, was issued following an interrogation session at the Al-Qishla Police Station in the Old City of Jerusalem.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the ban was enforced after al-Debs was summoned for questioning on the last Friday of Ramadan. He was subsequently handed a notice prohibiting his entry to the mosque, effective immediately. The journalist was instructed to return for further interrogation on Sunday, during which he received an order renewing the ban.
A statement from the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate disclosed that since the beginning of last month, 15 journalists, both male and female, have been prohibited by the occupation authorities from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
