Palestinian Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs on Saturday said that the Israeli occupation authorities banned adhan (Muslim call for prayer) 47 times in January 2019.

Yousef Edeis, Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs, in a statement condemned Israel's almost daily violation of the Muslims' right to worship, and said that it is aimed at tightening the Israeli settlers' control over the Islamic site.

Edeis noted that Israel has waged a series of measures which would have serious repercussions on al-Khalil and its holy sites, especially the Ibrahimi Mosque.

One of these measures is expelling international observers from al-Khalil after they had released a report on the Israeli occupation's crimes and violations in the city, he added.

The Palestinian minister called on the international community to do all that is necessary to protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in al-Khalil and put an end to the Israeli violations and aggressions.