Clashes erupted with the Israeli army in separate locations in the West Bank, in support of the Shuafat refugee camp in the city of Jerusalem, during which dozens of Palestinians were injured, while the occupation closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in the face of Palestinians in the city of Hebron and opened it to settlers.
Dozens of Palestinians were injured, on Wednesday, during clashes that erupted with the Israeli army in separate locations in the West Bank, in support of the Shuafat refugee camp in Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said that clashes erupted at the entrance to the cities of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, between dozens of young men and the Israeli army, while the Israeli forces used live and metal bullets and tear gas canisters against the Palestinians.
For its part, the Red Crescent Society said that its crews dealt with a live bullet wound to the foot, during clashes that erupted at the entrance to the cities of Ramallah and Al-Bireh. In a statement, she indicated that the injured person was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Field medics said that they provided field treatment to dozens of people who suffered from suffocation during those confrontations.
Similar confrontations erupted in the town of Sebastia, south of Nablus (north), Beit Ummar and Bab al-Zawiya neighborhood in Hebron governorate (south), and at the northern entrance to Bethlehem (south).
For its part, the Israeli army announced, on Wednesday, the closure of roads to and from the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, a day after one of its soldiers was shot dead. The army said in a statement: "It was decided to close the movement and roads to and from the city of Nablus." He explained that these measures come "as part of raising the pace of security activities in the Nablus area."
Activists and factions had called for a mass donation in the West Bank in support of the people of Shuafat camp. Since Saturday evening, the Israeli forces have continuously stormed Shuafat and imposed a suffocating siege and severe closure on it, in search of Uday al-Tamimi (22 years), who she says carried out a shooting attack at a checkpoint near the camp, killing a female soldier and seriously wounding a security guard.
In Jerusalem, thousands of settlers performed, on Wednesday, Talmudic rituals at the Al-Buraq Wall on the third day of the so-called "Throne Day", which comes after the "Feast of Atonement". Where they participated in a ritual, the so-called “priests’ blessing” at the Al-Buraq Wall, in Jerusalem, within strict security measures.
Closing the Ibrahimi Mosque
On Wednesday, the Israeli authorities closed the Ibrahimi Mosque to Palestinians in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, and opened it to settlers, under the pretext of celebrating the Jewish "throne" holiday.
The director of Hebron Endowments, Nidal al-Jabari, said that "the Israeli occupation authorities informed them of the closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque on Wednesday and Thursday, due to the Throne Day."
He added that "after the closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque, the occupation removes the carpets, opens all sections of the Haram to settlers, and organizes parties and holds Talmudic prayers inside the Ibrahimi Mosque."
Jabari denounced the closure policy, saying that "the mosque is a purely Islamic endowment that Jews have no right to."
For its part, the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, condemned Israel's closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque in front of worshipers.
The movement's spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, said in a statement: "We renew our refusal to close the Ibrahimi Mosque in front of worshipers, and to allow settlers to desecrate it and violate its sanctity by holding the Jewish holiday celebration." Barhoum considered "closing the mosque a flagrant violation of freedom of worship and the right of Muslims to pray."
In 2017, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee declared the Ibrahimi Mosque a "Palestinian heritage site".
The Ibrahimi Mosque is located in the old city of Hebron, which is under Israeli control, and is inhabited by about 400 settlers, guarded by approximately 1,500 Israeli soldiers.
Since 1994, Israel has divided the mosque by 63% for Jews and 37% for Muslims, following a massacre committed by a settler that resulted in the death of 29 worshipers.
There is a room for the call to prayer in the part dedicated to the Jews. Israel allows Muslim worshipers to enter their part of the sanctuary throughout the year, while it allows them to enter the Jewish part only 10 days a year during Islamic holidays, Fridays, and Laylat al-Qadr of Ramadan.
However, it allows Jews to enter the section designated for them throughout the year, and to enter the entire campus during some Jewish holidays.
Tags:
ASIA WEST UPDATE