According to a police statement presented in court, Gozali entered a restricted emergency access route at the Western Wall plaza while accompanying a group of marchers. When a foundation employee asked him to leave the area, Gozali allegedly refused. Police were called to the scene and Gozali is suspected of assaulting the employee in front of officers after they also asked him to vacate the area.
Following the incident, a police officer issued a 15-day ban on Gozali entering Jerusalem’s Old City. Gozali appealed the restriction, claiming it could damage Israel’s international relations. He said he was scheduled to lead a tour for a senior delegation from the United Arab Emirates, headed by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed.
The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court partially accepted his request, allowing Gozali to enter the Old City if accompanied by his wife. In his appeal, Gozali wrote: “For over two decades I’ve promoted jiu-jitsu in Israel and worked with at-risk youth free of charge.
“I was chosen to accompany Sheikh Tahnoun’s delegation for high-level meetings with Israeli officials. My presence is important as part of a cultural-sports bridge between the countries.”
The police criticized Gozali’s conduct in response: “It’s unfortunate that someone who presents himself as a youth mentor and a black belt in jiu-jitsu chooses to respond violently to a legitimate request by an employee simply doing his job.”
This is not Gozali’s first clash at the Western Wall plaza. In 2021, he entered the site with special permission to use his private vehicle but a confrontation broke out during his visit. He was accused of attacking a security officer, though the case was closed the following year. At the time, Gozali wrote on social media: “The police closed the case because I didn’t attack anyone. They tarnished my name for no reason.”
In a statement, Gozali denied the allegations against him: “Just like the previous case, this one will also be dropped once it becomes clear no assault took place.
“It’s unfortunate that instead of promoting Jewish and Zionist values and supporting Israeli sports, Western Wall staff repeatedly choose to harass me when I come to the site. This raises questions about whether they’re truly working for the Western Wall, for the Jewish people or for other motives.”
“With all due respect, I’m a professional fighter who competes in arenas—I have no interest in attacking anyone at the holiest site to the Jewish people. On the contrary!” he added.
“Interestingly, the day after the incident, police arrested a security guard who attacked an elderly man—only after National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir intervened. The real question is whether the Western Wall security staff are actually there to protect citizens at our holiest site. Sadly, the Israel Police continues to pursue media-driven cases.”
