LONDON: Israeli forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to Palestinian worshipers until Thursday evening due to the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which lasts for a week.

Amjad Karajeh, director of Hebron Endowments Department, condemned the measure as “a blatant violation of its (the mosque’s) sanctity and a provocative assault on the right of Muslims to access their places of worship,” according to Wafa news agency.

Karajeh added that Israeli forces increased military measures, closing all checkpoints and electronic gates to the Ibrahimi Mosque to secure settlers during the Sukkot celebration.

On Wednesday, Israeli authorities forced some markets in the Old City to close. They imposed a curfew for the third consecutive day on the Jaber, Salaymeh, Ghaith and Wadi Al-Hussein neighborhoods, which are close to the Kiryat Arba settlement.

Israeli military measures blocked Palestinian students from reaching school in Tel Rumeida, Shuhada Street and Jabal Al-Rahma, Wafa added.

Jewish holidays consistently create challenges for Palestinians in Hebron, a city located in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, as Israeli military closures limit their movement.

The Ibrahimi Mosque, situated in Hebron’s Old City, is surrounded by about 400 settlers who are guarded by about 1,500 Israeli soldiers, along with numerous roadblocks.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces detained more than 50 people in the Al-Arroub refugee camp, located north of Hebron, including 14 who were classified as “wanted.”