Jerusalem grand mufti blasted by worshippers for not mentioning Gaza in Al-Aqsa sermon

Jerusalem's top Muslim cleric was chastised by worshippers during his Friday sermon at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, after he reportedly made no mention of Israel's offensive on Gaza, local sources said.

A video that circulated online showed men shouting at Mufti Muhammad Hussein and forcing him down from the pulpit, in a rare move at Islam’s third holiest site.

"Out, out, out, the dogs of the authority out", the men are heard shouting in the video as the cleric descends from the pulpit's steps.

مصلون يعترضون على مفتي السلطة محمد حسين ويوقفون خطبته في الأقصى لعدم تناول الخطبة أي حديث حول المــ ـــقاومــة أو الشـــ ـــــهداء الفلسطينيين pic.twitter.com/op5qM1UlQq

— abdelmoneim Mahmoud عبدالمنعم محمود (@moneimpress) May 21, 2021

The mufti is believed to be close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has remained relatively quiet since Israel's bombing of Gaza began on May 10.

Israeli security forces also raided the Al-Aqsa compound again on Friday despite a truce, however it is unclear whether the two events were related.

After 11 days of Israeli bombardment on Gaza, nationwide protests and disruption, and continued fears of escalation, on Thursday evening Hamas and the Israeli Government agreed to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the Israeli onslaught led to 243 deaths in Gaza- including 66 children- with the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting 27 deaths in the West Bank. Twelve Israelis were killed by Hamas rocket fire into Israel.

More than 6,000 Palestinians were injured in both the West Bank and Gaza.