The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR 43 1.1.15 Violation and obstruction of religious freedoms, sites, and free exercise of religious observance In 2021, some 34,000 Israeli settlers raided the grounds of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on more than 245 occasions. The Israeli occupying authorities expelled over 300 Palestinian worshippers from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, closed gates of the mosque over nine times, and raided internal prayer places within the compound on more than an occasion.56 Citing Jewish holidays, the Israeli authorities closed down the Ibrahimi Mosque for 11 days and prevented calls to prayers on 633 occasions. The IOF desecrated, raided, demolished, and distributed demolition or stop work orders to 10 mosques across the West Bank. Dozens of mosques were destroyed during the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupying authorities desecrated graveyards on more than 18 occasions, expelled many Jerusalemite religious figures, including Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri, preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.57 The Israeli occupying authorities scaled up Juaidisation and incitement actions in Jerusalem. Unfolding events in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, so-called “Temple Mount” groups submitted a proposal to the Israeli government, which would present it to the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem. According to the proposal, the Dome of the Rock would be dismantled and replaced by the Jewish “Temple”. Extremist Jewish groups called for constructing a Talmudic school on the eastern grounds of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. To this end, Israeli surveyors surveyed the grounds of the mosque. On many occasions, the Israeli occupied authorities prevented the reconstruction committee from carrying out their work and assaulted the committee members. A Jewish rabbi poshed a photograph of the Dome of the Rock, announcing the need for an engineer specialising in the demolition of structures and buildings. While maintaining Judaisation activities, the Israeli occupying authorities contained to carry out excavation works on the Al-Buraq Plaza and Western Wall and encroached on the heritage Mughrabi Bridge. Located at a distance of 250 metres west the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Israeli authorities started to repair a synagogue several decades after it had been constructed. There were also renewed calls to include the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the visit schedule of Israeli schools, open the mosque to the Jews in the month of Ramadan, and increase the gates designated for raiding the mosque compound. The Jewish “Temple Mount” groups demanded that the Israeli Law on Holy Shrines be amended so as to incorporate the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a “Jewish religious landmark” beside the Al-Buraq Wall. They also called for increasing time allotted to raids in the afternoon, closing down the mosque to Muslim worshippers during Jewish holidays, and allow raids into the mosque compound on Saturdays. The Temple Mount Heritage Foundation sent a letter to the Israeli Minister of Internal Security, demanding that he allow the Jews to bring in and consume food and beverages on the grounds of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the days of Ramadan [the month of fasting for Muslims]. In July 2021, the IOF targeted Muslim worshippers on the Day of Arafah [the holiest day in the Islamic calendar, the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage], when Israeli settlers raid the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The IOF also cut off loudspeaker electrical wires, raided the minaret, closed doors to the Al-Qibli Mosque with chains, and besieged dozens of worshippers inside. On many occasions, the IOF disrupted functions of the Al-Aqsa Mosque reconstruction committee. Furthermore, cemeteries and mosques were under attack. Graves were exhumed in Al-Yusufiya cemetery, which was transformed into a public park. So was the situation in the Archaeology-Rahma and Ash-Shuhada’ cemeteries. In Hebron, the Israeli occupying authorities issued a stop work order, inhibiting restoration of the Islamic cemetery east of Yatta. Christian religious sites were not 56 57 Public Relations and Information Department, Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs (MoWA). Annual Report on the Israeli Attacks on the Al-Aqsa and Ibrahimi Mosques neighbourhood 2021. MoWA, 2022. Ibid. Twenty Seventh Annual Report 2021