Hundreds of Israeli settlers storm the Ibrahimi Mosque as Jews celebrate Passover

The director of the Ibrahimi Mosque, Moataz abu-Sneineh, said the Israeli army shut the doors of the mosque today and for tomorrow, preventing Palestinians and Muslim visitors from entry, as Jews celebrate Passover until Thursday.

The Israeli army is only allowing settlers to break in and perform Talmudic prayers, he added, while Muslim worshippers are being harassed.

The mosque will be closed for 10 days and calls for prayers will also be suspended. The move follows the “Shamgar” agreement, which led to division of the Ibrahimi Mosque after a massacre that took place in 1994. Since then, the mosque has been closed for 10 days during the Jewish Passover.

Meanwhile, Israeli settlers stormed the Old City of Hebron, stopping shoppers from heading to the market. Nader Al-Tamimi, a local merchant, said the settlers’ celebrations of their holidays come at the expense of the Palestinians, as they create “hell for us and an environment that repels passers-by and shop owners”.

“We witness attacks and the destruction of some of the contents of the shops, and many fear reaching the Old City. Their goal is to evacuate the Palestinians and only allow the settlers to roam freely,” he says.