Ibrahimi mosque closed for Muslim worshipers as settlers celebrate

Ibrahimi mosque closed for Muslim worshipers as settlers celebrate

AL-KHALIL, Scores of Jewish settlers converged on al-Khalil on Friday afternoon to celebrate "Chaye Sarah" closing the mosque in the face of Muslim worshipers for the length of the festivity.

The festivity will last until Saturday evening, where both parts of the Mosque have been opened for the settlers.

IOF troops intensified their presence inside the city, especially the old city and roads leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque.

The Israeli occupation authorities had earlier informed the Islamic Awqaf department in al-Khalil of the intended closure of the mosque for Muslims on Friday and Saturday.

Although Chaye Sarah is not an official Jewish holiday, settlers made it a yearly celebration saying that as they read in the Torah the story of Ibrahim (PBUH) buying the caves of Machpela, as they are trying to gradually take over the Ibrahimi Mosque.