Jerusalem’s top Islamic religious official has been banned from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinian officials said on Wednesday, as his legal team considers taking the case to the Israeli Supreme Court.

What happened: The Jerusalem governorate, an administrative division of the Palestinian Authority, said in a Facebook post that Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmad Hussein has been banned from the Al-Aqsa Mosque for six months, following the initial eight-day suspension he received from the Muslim holy site. The decision was relayed by Israel Police in Jerusalem, the governorate said.

The Palestinian Authority’s WAFA news agency reported that the mufti was originally banned following a sermon he gave on July 25 in which he “denounced the occupation's starvation policy against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.” Hussein was summoned by Israeli authorities and delivered the original suspension two days later, according to the agency.

Numerous humanitarian organizations have warned of widespread starvation in Gaza in recent weeks, blaming Israeli restrictions, chaotic conditions and looting for the lack of access to aid amid the ongoing war with Hamas. Nearly 1,400 Palestinians have been killed while waiting for food aid since late May, most by Israeli fire, according to the United Nations. Israel denies targeting civilians, saying it fires only warning shots near military positions. While aid deliveries have increased since late last month following international outcry, UN agencies and aid groups say the volume remains woefully insufficient.