Israel refuses to open Ibrahimi Mosque fully for prayer on holiest day of Ramadan

Israel has refused to open all of the halls in the Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron for Muslim prayers on Laylat Al-Qadr (Night of Destiny), the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf [Endowments] and Religious Affairs said on Wednesday. Laylat Al-Qadr is the holiest night in Islam. It was on this night that the Holy Quran was first revealed and it falls on one of the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramadan, although it is generally thought to be the 27th night.

“This is an arbitrary and dangerous precedent in this holy place, a brazen provocation of Muslim sentiments, and a lack of respect for the sanctity of the holy month of Ramadan and the Ibrahimi Mosque complex,” said Awqaf Minister Mohamed Najm.

He called on Palestinians to mobilise and gather at the mosque “to affirm the Palestinian Islamic presence” there. “This is the best way to counter this invasive occupation in these difficult times for the Palestinian people,” the minister stressed.

The Ibrahimi Mosque is in the Old City of Hebron, which is under Israeli occupation. The Old City is home to around 400 illegal Jewish settlers guarded by approximately 1,500 Israeli soldiers.

In 1994, following a massacre by an illegal settler who killed 29 Palestinian worshippers, Israel divided the mosque, allocating 63 per cent of its area to Jews, including the prayer room, and 37 per cent to Muslims.

It has been customary for the mosque to be opened fully to Muslims only 10 days a year, including Fridays during Ramadan and Laylat Al-Qadr.

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