13 Aug 2021; MEMO: Hamas yesterday rejected Israel's construction plans around the Ibrahimi Mosque in occupied Hebron, describing it as "aggression" against Palestinian sanctities.
Hamas spokesman, Hazem Qassem, told Anadolu that the Israeli plan to change the Ibrahimi Mosque's features and build an elevator is part of "the Israeli ongoing aggression against the sanctities of our people", adding that "the Israeli occupation is trying to falsify reality, history and facts".
Qassem explained that the Israeli measures aim at Judaising the region in favour of settlement projects, and changing the Palestinian identity in the city of Hebron.
In May 2020, then Israeli Defence Minister and current Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, issued an expropriation order for a portion of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to allow the occupation authorities to build a corridor and an elevator to facilitate settler access to the mosque.
Construction work began on Sunday despite Palestinian objections.
In 2017, UNESCO included the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City of Hebron as a Palestinian heritage site.
