Israel Closes West Bank Sites, Restricts Movement, and Harasses Olive Harvesters
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
Israeli forces closed the Qalandia checkpoint, restricting movement into and out of Jerusalem, and settlers attacked olive harvesters near Ramallah. In Hebron, the Ibrahimi Mosque was closed to Muslims, and staff were expelled. The Palestinian Ministry of Waqf condemned the actions as violations of religious freedom and international law, calling for international intervention. Three youths were also arrested in Jenin.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli forces closed the Qalandia checkpoint, impeding travel between Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
- Settlers attacked olive harvesters and damaged trees in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah.
- Israeli authorities closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to Muslim worshippers and expelled staff.
- The Palestinian Ministry of Waqf condemned the closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque as a violation of religious freedom.
- Israeli forces arrested three young men from the town of Ya'bad in the Jenin governorate.
- The Ministry of Waqf called for international intervention to stop Israeli actions affecting holy sites.
Israeli forces closed the Qalandia military checkpoint, preventing movement between Jerusalem and its surroundings, causing significant delays for hundreds of travelers. In the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, settlers attacked olive harvesters on Friday morning, damaging fruit-bearing trees. Separately, a settler released livestock onto agricultural land near Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, while Israeli soldiers raided the area of Khirbet Abu Falah.
In the Jenin governorate, Israeli forces arrested three young men from the town of Ya'bad: Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Saleh, Mahmoud Bassam Hamarsheh, and Omar Adnan Hamarsheh. The arrests followed a raid on their homes, during which properties were searched and damaged, according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club.
In Hebron, Israeli authorities closed the Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of the Patriarchs) to Muslim worshippers, expelling mosque staff and custodians affiliated with the Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs. The ministry condemned the closure and expulsions, calling them a violation of Islamic holy sites and freedom of worship guaranteed by international law. The ministry stated that these actions are part of a policy to impose control and divide the mosque temporally and spatially, denying its legitimate Islamic administration. It emphasized that the mosque is a purely Islamic endowment and that these measures will not alter its Islamic and historical identity. The ministry warned of the consequences of continued violations and urged the international community, human rights organizations, and UNESCO to intervene and pressure Israel to cease actions affecting Islamic holy sites and religious freedom.
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