The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, condemned the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to close the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to Muslim worshipers over the Jewish holidays.

In a press statement on Thursday, the Mufti said described the steps as "an aggression and heinous crime that deprives Muslim worshippers from performing their religious rituals, sounding the call to prayer, and praying in this important mosque, and instead leaves it open for settlers to perform their religious rituals."

He added that both monotheistic faith and international law do not permit harm to places of worship. 

The Mufti also stressed the importance of making the journey to Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, especially in light of settler activity at the compound, under the auspices of the Israeli authorities.