Israel closes Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslims in Hebron, West Bank

Israel closed the Ibrahimi Mosque, also known as the Cave of the Patriarchs or the Sanctuary of Abraham, to Muslims in Hebron of occupied West Bank, Palestine, on Monday, citing Jewish holidays as a pretext, Anadolu reports.

According to a statement from the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Israeli authorities ordered the closure to run from Monday through Wednesday.

The ministry added that both prayer and the call to prayer are prohibited at the site throughout the three-day period.

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The Jewish holiday season began with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, on Sept. 12-13. It continues with Yom Kippur, followed by Sukkot from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2 and Simchat Torah on Oct. 3.

The Ibrahimi Mosque is located in the Old City of Hebron, which is under full Israeli control, where around 400 occupiers live under the protection of approximately 1,500 Israeli soldiers.

In 1994, Israel divided the mosque, allocating 63% to Jews and 37% to Muslims, following a massacre carried out by an Israeli occupier that killed 29 Palestinian worshippers.

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