Palestinians Condemn Israeli Decision to Close Ibrahimi Mosque
The Society of Defenders of Palestine in a statement said the Zionist occupiers use different methods to expand their occupation, Amad news website reported.
It added that even mosques are not spared from the regime’s attacks and crimes against Palestinians.
The statement said while Zionist settlers are easily allowed to enter the mosque and desecrate it, closing the place of worship under the pretext of preventing the spread of COVID-19 is condemned.
Meanwhile, Mahmoud al-Habbash, an advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on religious affairs and Islamic relations, said in a press statement that Israel's closure of the mosque is a “war crime”.
“Banning Muslim worshipers' access to pray at the mosque could fuel the sentiments of Muslims around the world,” al-Habbash said, adding that it is an interference into the powers of al-Waqf department.
The Ministry of the Palestinian al-Waqf is in charge of the holy sites, mainly mosques in the Palestinian territories.
Israeli media had earlier reported that the Israeli authorities decided to close the mosque for 10 days as part of the precautionary measures to combat the COVID-19 spread in Hebron.
