Ramallah:  The Grand Mufti of Occupied Jerusalem condemned on Thursday in the strongest terms the raid and sealing off of a mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem.

He called on the international community to stop the Israelis' violations of mosques and sacred places.

The Grand Mufti Shaikh Mohammad Hussain said in a statement that Israel did not have the right to carry out the raid and seal off Muslim mosques which are protected with international laws and agreements.

He stressed that mosques were Islamic Waqf and only Muslims had the right to get involved with mosque matters. He said Israel did not show any respect for sacred places and international law.

Israeli forces raided late on Wednesday the Ibn Qudamah Mosque in Wadi Al Joz area of Occupied East Jerusalem, and destroyed parts of the mosque before they sealed it off under a direct order of the Israeli Minister of Internal Security.

The Israeli forces smashed the mosque's speakers and ordered the Palestinian public to avoid the mosque, which will remain sealed off.

Palestinian residents of Wadi Al Joz attempted to protect the mosque, but the presence of the Israeli troops made that impossible. Several Palestinians were arrested accused of attacking the Israeli forces and disturbing their work.

Shaikh Hussain said that the mosques in Palestinian territories and mainly in Occupied East Jerusalem had been subjected to an Israeli strategy to uproot the Palestinians and Muslim presence.

He stressed that many mosques had been burned, destroyed and sealed off.

Shaikh Hussain called on the international institutions to act immediately in defence of the mosques and Islamic sacred places.

Dr. Hana Eisa, the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs for Christian Affairs said that the Israelis did not show any respect for the freedom of religions, and committed a serious violation for which they should be tried.

He stressed that the occupier did not have the right to violate the religious rights of the occupied, and that Israel should stick to the Fourth Geneva Convention.

 

Dr Eisa said that Ibn Qudamah Mosque should be opened instantly, or that the UN General Assembly and the Security Council should act and force Israel to reopen the mosque.