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World
Israeli military and police have shut down the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, barring Palestinians from access until further notice.
Palestinian officials confirmed on Friday that Israeli military and police forces have closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of Hebron to Palestinians until further notice.
Humam Abu Markhiya, the acting director of the mosque, stated that "Israeli forces compelled the guards, custodians, staff, and worshippers to leave the Ibrahimi Mosque."
The Israeli army intensified its military measures by sealing all military checkpoints and electronic gates leading to the mosque, preventing Palestinians from reaching it to perform Friday prayers.
The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs described the closure as a blatant violation of freedom of worship and a direct assault on Muslims' right to access their holy sites.
The ministry indicated that the move reflects the ongoing occupation policy aimed at altering the established religious and historical status of the Ibrahimi Mosque.
It added that the closure constitutes a flagrant breach of international laws and agreements that guarantee freedom of worship and protect sacred places during religious times, warning of severe consequences if these measures persist.
The ministry accused Israel of attempting to impose a new reality inside the mosque and called for the immediate reopening of the Ibrahimi Mosque to worshippers without restrictions.
Reports have emerged of confrontations between Israeli police and demonstrators in Jerusalem, accompanied by video footage documenting the incidents.
