Occupied Hebron (QNN)- The Israeli forces on Monday closed the Ibrahimi mosque in occupied Hebron and prevented its guards and custodians from entry. In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs said that "closing the mosque is an attempt to impose full control over it. A step that could continue even after the coronavirus crisis." "The Israeli measures came following orders by the Ministry to close the mosque for visitors and worshipers as a part of the preventive measures from the coronavirus. The Ministry decided, however, to allow the mosque's guards and custodians to continue their work in order to protect the mosque from any Israeli attack", the statement added. The Ministry called on "the international community to prevent the occupation from implementing its plans of turning the mosque to a synagogue, flouting the Muslims' exclusive ownership of the mosque."