Palestinians mark 30 years since Ibrahimi Mosque massacre

 Occupied Al-Quds, (ST) – At a time when the genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation against Gaza Strip continues for the 142nd day, during which it committed 2,600 massacres that claimed the lives of about 30,000 martyrs and wounded tens of thousands of people.

The Palestinians today remember the massacre of the Ibrahimi Mosque, which was committed by a terrorist settler 30 years ago, and resulted in the death and injury of dozens.

At dawn on February 25, 1994, the terrorist Baruch Goldstein stormed into the Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of Al-Kahlil (Hebron) in the West Bank under the protection of the occupation forces, and opened fire on about 500 Palestinians who were performing the dawn prayer, leading to the martyrdom of 29 of them and the injury of dozens.

Palestinians who survived the massacre stated that the forces the occupation helped the terrorist Goldstein load the ammunition that contained explosive bullets, the fragments of which penetrated the heads and bodies of worshipers.

The occupation forces closed the doors of the Mosque to prevent worshipers from leaving, and prevented paramedics and those coming from outside the Mosque from reaching its courtyards to rescue the wounded.

During the funeral of the victims, bullets were fired at the mourners, so the number of martyrs rose to 50 and the wounded to 150, so that demonstrations spread to the city of Al-Kahlil and all the cities and towns of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the occupied territories of 1948. However, the occupation forces suppressed them with bullets, bringing the number of martyrs to 60 and the wounded to hundreds.

Following the massacre, the occupation forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City in Al-Kahil for six months, imposed a difficult reality on the lives of the people in the Old City, placed tight security on the Mosque, and seized the largest part of it with the aim of Judaizing it.

The occupation forces also placed cameras and electronic gates at all its entrances, and closed most of the roads leading to the mosque before the Palestinians, with the exception of one gate with strict military procedures. The occupation also closed the Hisba Market, Al-Khalil and Shaheen Khans, and Al-Shuhada and Al-Sahla Streets. With these measures, the city and the old Town were separated from its surroundings.

The Palestinians confirm that the massacre committed by the terrorist Goldstein is not individual madness as the occupation claimed, because an insane person cannot plan such a crime and implement it in details accurately, so, choosing Al-Khalil (Hebron), especially the Ibrahimi Mosque, specifically the dawn of the Friday of Ramadan, and the moment the worshipers prostrated, to be the moment of killing. It cannot be the choice of a crazy person.

What confirms this matter is that the occupation forces did not stop the terrorist at the gates and entrances of the Mosque, and he was able to easily reach the prayer hall and open fire heavily for 10 minutes and they didn’t interfere, rather, they let him carry out and complete his massacre.

The violations and practices of the occupation forces and colonialist settlers in the city of Al-kahlil did not stop. They planted a number of settlement outposts there, closed ghe city’ streets, and committed the most horrific human rights violations, including killing, destruction, curfews, and an ongoing economic blockade that paralyzed commercial activity in the city’s old markets.

The violations and practices of the occupation forces and its settlers in the city of Al-Kahliln did not stop. The occupation planted a number of settlement outposts there, closed its streets, and committed the most horrific human rights violations, including killing, destruction, curfews, and an ongoing economic blockade that paralyzed commercial activity in its old markets.

Attacks on property also continue. The occupation demolished archaeological and historical buildings in the city in the most horrific crime that aims at obliterating its cultural landmarks and changing its Arab-Islamic identity.

Raghda Sawas