The Israeli occupation army announced on Monday the closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil City to Muslim worshipers for two days to allow Jewish settlers to celebrate the Passover occasion at the Islamic holy site.

The Islamic Awqaf Directorate in al-Khalil said in a statement that the Israeli army closed the Mosque last night and informed it of its intention to bar Muslim worshipers from entering the holy site for two days.

The Awqaf Directorate described the closure as “a blatant violation of the Mosque’s sanctity and a provocative and aggressive step against Muslims’ right to have access to their places of worship.”

After the 1994 massacre of 29 Palestinian worshipers inside the Mosque by a Jewish terrorist the IOA imposed its control over the Islamic holy site and divided it between Muslims and Jewish settlers.

The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) on Sunday announced the closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil City to Muslim worshipers for one day to allow Jewish settlers to celebrate a religious event.

Director of the Mosque Sheikh Hafdi Abu Sneina said that the Israeli occupation army tightened its military measures at the entrances to the Old City at the pretext of securing the place for Jewish celebrations.

Sheikh Abu Sneina added that the IOA informed him of its intent to close the entire Mosque with its courtyards corridors and buildings until 03:00 am on Monday.

This was the second Israeli closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque during the current month. It was closed to Muslim worshipers on September 7 on allegations of allowing Jewish settlers to mark the new Hebrew year.

After the 1994 massacre of 29 Palestinian worshippers inside the Mosque by Jewish terrorist Baruch Goldstein the IOA imposed its control over the Islamic holy site and divided it between Muslims and Jewish settlers.

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday morning closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil city for 24 hours in order to allow Jewish settlers to celebrate a religious event.

Palestinian Awqaf official Ra’ed Masouda said the IOF closed the Ibrahimi Mosque entirely before Muslim worshippers and allowed scores of Jewish settlers to defile it.

“The Israeli authorities told us the Mosque would be closed from Thursday morning to Friday morning” Masouda said.

He added that the settlers pitched tents in the Mosque’s courtyards.

After the 1994 massacre of 29 Palestinian worshippers inside the Mosque by Jewish terrorist Baruch Goldstein the Israeli occupation authority imposed its control over the Islamic holy site and divided it between Muslims and Jewish settlers.

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have continued to close the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshipers and open it only to Jewish settlers who are celebrating a Jewish holiday.

According to local activists on Saturday Israeli forces spread around the Mosque and through the Old City of al-Khalil deployed barriers and security scanners on the roads leading to it and prevented Palestinian citizens from entering it.

Meanwhile hordes of Jewish settlers organized tours inside the Old City of al-Khalil where soldiers also obstructed the movement of Palestinian citizens.