Al-Aqsa imam among Palestinians on Israeli far-right Telegram hit list

Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the imam of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, is among dozens of Palestinians whose names and locations have been posted in a far-right Israeli Telegram channel calling for them to be killed, Middle East Eye has discovered.

The channel, called Nazi Hunters 2023, describes those targeted – often accompanied by photos with crosshairs over their faces - as “Nazis who are walking around freely and have not yet been eliminated”.

Khaled Zabarqa, the head of Sabri's legal team, told MEE that Sabri was aware of the threat against him, which he said was being incited by "extremist Jewish factions, supported by elements within the Israeli government".

Sabri had contacted the Kingdom of Jordan, the custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem, and Arab consulates in Jerusalem to update them about the severity of the situation, Zabarqa said.

"This incitement is both transparent and dangerous. For nearly a year Sheikh Ekrima has faced continuous provocation, with these Jewish extremist groups directly inciting his assassination," he said.

Read more: Al-Aqsa imam among Palestinians on Israeli far-right Telegram hit list