Israeli occupation forces today attacked hundreds of Palestinian Muslim worshippers who gathered at the Al-Haram al-Ibrahimi (Ibrahimi Mosque) in Hebron (Al-Khalil), south of the occupied West Bank, in protest of Israeli threats to take over the holy site.
Israeli soldiers fired teargas canisters and stun grenades at the worshippers to disperse them, causing many cases of suffocation from gas inhalation.
Israeli occupation forces attack Palestinians holding prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, south of the occupied West Bank, today. pic.twitter.com/oR3Xtcd3kS
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 13, 2021
Prior to this, hundreds of worshippers from Hebron and neighboring towns and villages converged to the holy site at the call of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, prompted by Israel’s construction of a separate passage and an elevator in the holy site that will only serve Jewish settlers.
The move is seen by Palestinians as an attempt to Judaize the holy site and ultimately take it over by the Israeli occupation authorities.
شاهد: قوات الاحتلال تقمع المصلين بقنابل الصوت والغاز في ساحات #المسجد_الإبراهيمي. pic.twitter.com/iRf5h5517k
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) August 13, 2021
The mosque is located at the southeast corner of modern Hebron and in the heart of its old town. It is considered the fourth holiest site in Islam and the second holiest site in Palestine.
Palestinians accuse Israel of trying to alter the Islamic and historic nature of the mosque. The mosque is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
(WAFA, PC, Social Media)
