AL-KHALIL, (PIC)
Thousands of Israeli settlers held a concert in the courtyards of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of al-Khalil in the southern occupied West Bank, after storming it on Monday evening under heavy protection by Israeli occupation forces (IOF), which intensified military measures in the vicinity of the holy site, according to the mosque’s director, Muataz Abu Sneineh.
The settlers performed provocative Talmudic rituals in the Ibrahimi Mosque after it was closed to the entry of Palestinians for about 24 hours.
Abu Sneineh told WAFA news agency on Tuesday that the settlers brought in musical instruments and loudspeakers and held a concert in blatant violation of places of worship.
Abu Sneineh pointed out that these practices and violations fall within the framework of imposing complete control over the mosque and its surroundings, while Palestinian citizens are not allowed to bring in the necessary supplies for its maintenance and restoration.
He said that such a practice desecrates holy places of worship, calling for putting an end to such violations by flocking to the mosque and spreading information about the blatant violations committed inside and around it.
Abu Sneineh underscored that the ongoing Israeli Judaization operations and practices, including broadcasting pictures of settlers dancing inside the mosque and in its vicinity, aims at displacing Palestinian citizens from the places they want to take control of, especially in al-Khalil’s Old Town, according to a systematic plan implemented by the Israeli occupation government.
The IOF closed the Ibrahimi Mosque from Sunday evening until Monday evening, under the pretext of celebrating Jewish holidays, amid heavy protection from Israeli occupation soldiers.
The Muslims’ part of the Ibrahimi Mosque is constantly subjected to violations by settler groups under the pretext of performing religious prayers.
