RAMALLAH, The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) announced has said that preventing Palestinians from accessing the Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank city of Hebron was “a violation of international laws and conventions.”
In a statement issued on the 28th anniversary of the massacre of Ibrahimi Mosque, the PLO’s Human Rights Department said: “Since 25 February, 1994, Palestinians have been prevented from reaching the mosque, praying inside it and broadcasting the call to prayer a lot of times.”
On 25 February, 1994, extremist Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein opened fire at Palestinian worshippers while Palestinians performed dawn prayer at Ibrahimi Mosque, killing 29 worshippers and wounding over 100 others.
“Since then, the Israeli occupation authorities have been Judaising Ibrahimi Mosque by preventing Palestinians from entering it when the settlers celebrate their rituals,” the statement added. It continued: “There are decisions issued by international bodies that decided that Ibrahimi Mosque is part of the human heritage and is a sacred place exclusive to Muslims and Palestinians.”
The PLO called for the international community to uphold its responsibilities and afford international protection for Palestinians and their holy places under the Israeli occupation.
Source: Palestine News &Info Agency