Israeli authorities have closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to Muslim worshippers until Saturday evening, according to a Palestinian official.
This move, which allows Israeli settlers to celebrate one of their religious holidays, has sparked criticism from local Palestinian leaders.
The closure, which began on Wednesday, includes shutting the mosque’s main gates and prohibiting all staff from the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments from entering.
This action is seen as part of broader Israeli measures to control the Old City of Hebron, where heavy military presence is reported. Soldiers have been deployed across key areas, while hundreds of Israeli settlers are given access to the mosque.
The head of the Ibrahimi Mosque, Mutaz Abu Sineina, condemned the closure, calling it a violation of the freedom of worship.
He stated that Israel’s actions are discriminatory, preventing Muslims from practicing their faith in a holy site of immense religious significance.
In addition, Ghassan Rajabi, Director-General of Hebron’s Endowments Department, voiced his concerns over the ongoing restrictions on the mosque, including the prevention of the call to prayer during the morning hours for 27 consecutive days.
He noted that the unprecedented four-day closure marks a worrying escalation in the Israeli government’s measures against Islamic holy sites in Hebron.
In a related incident, Israeli settlers reportedly attacked a mosque in Khirbet Tana, a village near Nablus. Local officials said the settlers vandalized the mosque, destroying solar panels and furniture inside, further aggravating tensions in the region.
Khirbet Tana has been subjected to repeated attacks by settlers, with several residents forcibly displaced as part of ongoing efforts to take control of the area.
