The Israeli occupation forces Wednesday closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in the southern West Bank city of Hebron for the Muslim worshippers under the pretext of the Jewish holidays while opening it only for Jewish prayers, for two days starting today.

The director of the Ibrahimi Mosque, Moataz Abu Sneineh, denounced the decision to close the Mosque, considering it a blatant violation of its sanctity, and a provocative attack on the right of Muslims to access their places of worship.

The occupation forces also tightened security measures and closed all military checkpoints and electronic gates leading to the Mosque, to secure the colonists’ celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Passover in the Mosque and its courtyards.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the occupation forces were deployed at all entrances leading to the Mosque, to secure the arrival of the colonists to the city of Hebron and archaeological areas under the pretext of celebrating Jewish holidays, adding that some markets in the Old City were also close
d.

It is noteworthy that the occupation completely closes the Mosque for 10 days a year, under the pretext of Jewish holidays, and takes away the rights of Palestinian worshipers.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon