jordan pulse -

The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs reported that Israeli occupation authorities refused to hand over the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron’s Old City, including all its halls, courtyards, and facilities, to the ministry’s administration as is customary on Fridays during Ramadan.

In a statement issued Friday, the ministry described the move as dangerous and unprecedented in both scale and timing, part of a systematic effort to obstruct full Muslim access to the mosque.

The ministry explained that, traditionally, on Thursday night of Ramadan’s Fridays, the mosque’s director and custodians take charge of the site to prepare for its complete opening to worshippers. These Fridays are among the ten days annually when the entire mosque is open for Muslim prayers. However, this time, occupation forces denied access to the eastern gate area, which serves as the women’s prayer section during Friday prayers.

The ministry warned that this unexpected move sets a dangerous precedent, potentially leading to further restrictions in the future, aligning with previous threats by a Knesset member to seize full control of the mosque.

It also noted that the measure was taken to appease settlers who oppose unrestricted Muslim access to the mosque, aiming to transform it into a synagogue for Talmudic rituals. Since the start of Ramadan, occupation authorities have already banned Palestinians under 25 from entering the mosque.

The ministry condemned these Israeli restrictions and refused to accept partial control of the mosque under such violations. It urged UNESCO, which has recognized the Ibrahimi Mosque as a World Heritage Site, to intervene and halt the occupation’s ongoing violations.