The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs on Wednesday condemned the illumination of the walls of the Ibrahimi Mosque with the Israeli flag colors and Hebrew phrases. In a statement, the ministry called it "a blatant assault" on the sanctity of the mosque located in the West Bank city of Hebron. The mosque is "a purely Islamic endowment in which non-Muslims have no right," it added.
"Israeli measures inside the mosque are invalid and illegal, and are a dangerous attempt to alter its historical features and impose a new Judaization reality by force of arms," the ministry added. It called on the international community and rights groups to urgently intervene to stop violations against Islamic holy sites and urged Palestinians to maintain a constant presence at the mosque.
Rights activist Aref Jaber told Anadolu that occupiers held an event near the mosque, illuminated its walls with blue lights to celebrate the "anniversary of the occupation of Hebron in 1967," and played loud music that echoed through the mosque courtyard.
The Ibrahimi Mosque has long been subject to tight restrictions and a division of access between Muslims and Jews. Israel divided the site in 1994, allocating 63% for Jews and 37% for Muslims after an occupier attack killed 29 Palestinian worshippers. Israeli authorities prevented the call to prayer at the mosque 91 times in April alone.
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