Palestinian Muslim worshippers pray outside Ibrahimi Mosque during the first Friday prayer of the holy month of Ramadan in the West Bank City of Hebron, on May 10, 2019. (Xinhua/Mamoun Wazwaz)
Israel is "using its military power to impose full control over the Palestinian religious site," says a Palestinian official, referring to Ibrahimi Mosque in the Palestinian city of Hebron, fourth holiest site considered by Muslims.
RAMALLAH, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian sources said on Saturday that the Israeli forces have closed down Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank's southern city of Hebron, as thousands of Israeli settlers flock into the city to mark a Jewish holiday.
The Israeli forces also shut a main road leading to Hebron's central market to allow settlers to march toward a historical site. The Israeli forces forced Palestinian shop owners along the road to close down and banned Palestinians from moving around the old city which is under Palestinian control.
Hisham Sharabati, a member of Hebron Defense Committee, described the intensified Israeli restrictions as "an undeclared curfew," and a significant violation of the Palestinians' freedom of movement, religious and economic rights.
"The Israeli closure in the area would lead to serious losses for Palestinian merchants, because the city market is usually very busy on Saturdays, and it has caused an unbearable traffic jam," he told Xinhua.
Israel is "using its military power to impose full control over the Palestinian religious site," Sharabati said, referring to Ibrahimi Mosque.
Settlers have been flocking into Hebron since Friday evening to mark Chayei Sarah, or the life of Sarah holiday, this weekend and are expected to stay in the vicinity of the Mosque or the Cave of Patriarchs, which is a historical site believed to be the tomb of the prophet Abraham, his wife Sarah and his sons.
Ibrahimi Mosque, also known as Sanctuary of Abraham, is about 1,000 years old and is considered by Muslims the fourth holiest site, while Israelis believe the site is a shared faith site but has for a long time imposed restrictions on the access of Palestinians into the mosque.
In July 2018, the UNESCO declared the old city of Hebron an endangered site in an overwhelming vote, saying it is a Palestinian site that requires protection.
Following the signing of the Oslo agreement between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel in 1993, a subsequent agreement about Hebron was signed in 1997 splitting it into two sections; H1, which is under Palestinian control, and H2 under Israeli control.
Since then, tensions have been mounting between Palestinians and Israelis in the old city, leading to a sharp decline in the Palestinian population there and gradually killing the city's economic and touristic life. ■
