The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Tuesday shut down the Ibrahimi Mosque in the Old City of al-Khalil and only allowed in the Mu’addin to recite the call to prayer.
In a statement the Palestinian Awqaf and Religious Affairs Ministry said that the IOF prevented the Ibrahimi Mosque guards and employees from entering the Mosque at dawn exploiting the coronavirus crisis in order to impose further control over the holy site.
The Awqaf Ministry explained that its decision to close the Mosque to foreign visitors and Muslim worshipers had been taken in compliance with the directives issued recently by the Palestinian cabinet and the health ministry to prevent the spread of coronavirus but it permitted the presence of the Mosque guards and employees at the holy site in order to protect it against any potential Israeli violation or attempt to Judaize it.
The Ministry expressed concern over Israel’s intents to turn the Ibrahimi Mosque into a synagogue calling for urgent international action to protect the Islamic holy site.
