Israeli military forces have restricted access to the Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, preventing Palestinian worshippers from entering the site. This decision was made as thousands of Israeli settlers gathered at the location for a significant Jewish religious celebration. The restrictions were implemented on Friday afternoon and are scheduled to remain in effect until 10 pm on Saturday.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments, both regular worshippers and mosque staff have been prevented from entering the premises. Consequently, the traditional call to prayer was suspended during the period of closure. Moataz Abu Sneineh, the director of the mosque, stated that Israeli authorities planned to open the prayer halls and courtyards exclusively for Israeli visitors during the event.
The timing of the closure coincides with an annual Jewish observance that commemorates Sarah, a wife of Prophet Abraham. Tradition holds that she is buried at this specific site. The mosque, which is also known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs, is a holy place revered by both Muslims and Jews as the burial site of Abraham and members of his family.
In addition to the mosque closure, Israeli troops tightened security checkpoints and restricted movement throughout Hebron’s Old City. These measures prevented some local residents from entering or leaving their homes. Israeli forces informed The Jerusalem Post that they anticipated approximately 20,000 visitors at the site for the holiday. To manage the crowd and maintain security, hundreds of personnel were deployed to the area.
The current situation follows a 1997 agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, known as the Hebron Agreement. Under this deal, Israel assumed security control over the Old City, while the Palestinian municipality retained powers related to planning and construction. However, the balance of power has shifted recently. In June, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a takeover of those planning and construction powers. This move undermined Palestinian oversight of the holy site and raised concerns that Israel was seeking to secure exclusive Jewish use of the location.
The closure occurs just days after Israeli forces concluded a ten-day siege of Hebron. During that siege, hundreds of arrests were made, 15 homes were demolished, and more than 3,300 Palestinians were displaced. The recent events highlight the ongoing tensions in the city, where Israeli settlers have steadily expanded their presence. They have seized Palestinian properties and established new outposts under the protection of the Israeli military.
The Ibrahimi Mosque remains a focal point of contention in the West Bank. The annual closure for the Jewish holiday underscores the complex administrative and religious dynamics at play in Hebron. As settlers continue to expand their footprint in the Old City, the status of the mosque and the rights of its Palestinian users remain subjects of intense scrutiny and debate.
