Al Jazeera reported that Israel has extended the entry ban for Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, until April 2027. Since early 2026, Israeli authorities have issued over a thousand entry bans, prohibiting Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City, including religious figures and Islamic Waqf officials. Waqf officials warn that Israel's control over the Muslim holy site is diminishing, citing examples such as a reduction in the number of guards and Israel's unilateral closure of the mosque for 40 days during the war with Iran without consultation.