JENIN, January, 28, 2024 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces today demolished a mosque in Jenin refugee camp.

Local sources reported that the occupation forces demolished Hamza Mosque in the camp, as part of its ongoing aggression on the city of Jenin and its camp for the eighth consecutive day.

The occupation forces also raided homes in the area known as Al-Hisan Roundabout east of the camp and forced citizens to evacuate their homes, in preparation for demolishing parts of them.  

The occupation bulldozers continue to open roads in the camp, specifically in the area known as Mahyoub Street, and the bulldozing and destruction of infrastructure operations continue in the Al-Hawashin and Al-Aloub neighborhoods.

The occupation continues to send military reinforcements from the Al-Jalama checkpoint to the city of Jenin and its camp, while drones continue to fly in the skies of the camp.

For the eighth consecutive day, the occupation continues its aggression on the city of Jenin and its camp, which has resulted so far in the killing of 16 Palestinians and causing the injury of others.  The offensive also caused the forced evacuation of families and the destruction and burning of 100 homes inside the camp.

In turn, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the occupation forces' demolition of the mosque, considering this act a blatant attack on Islamic sanctities and a clear violation of all international laws and covenants that guarantee the protection of places of worship.

It stressed that this crime falls within the policy of dangerous escalation pursued by the occupation forces against our people and our sanctities, and comes within the framework of ongoing attempts to impose a new reality aimed at undermining the identity of our people and their religious heritage.

It called on the international community, human rights institutions, and international organizations to assume their responsibilities and intervene urgently to stop these repeated violations, and ensure the protection of places of worship from any targeting.

"Mosques represent a religious and national symbol for our people, and targeting them is targeting the dignity of the nation and its right to practice its religious rituals freely," it added.

The Endowments stressed the need for immediate Arab and Islamic action to stop the Israeli attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites in Palestine, stressing that the silence of the international community towards these crimes encourages the occupation to continue its violations.

Y.S