Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron Barred to Palestinians for Jewish Holiday Amid Settler Influx

Israeli forces have imposed a closure on the Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, preventing Palestinian worshippers from accessing the site as thousands of Israeli settlers gather for a Jewish religious celebration. The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments confirmed that worshippers and mosque staff were denied entry, and the call to prayer was suspended. Moataz Abu Sneineh, the mosque director, informed Al Jazeera that Israeli authorities planned to open the mosque’s prayer halls and courtyards exclusively for Israelis. This closure, which began on Friday afternoon and is scheduled to end on Saturday at 10 pm, coincides with an annual Jewish observance commemorating Sarah, a wife of Prophet Abraham, who is traditionally believed to be buried at the location. Israeli troops intensified checkpoint operations and restricted movement within Hebron’s Old City, the mosque's location, impeding some residents' ability to enter or leave their homes. According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli forces anticipated approximately 20,000 visitors for the Jewish holiday, with hundreds of security personnel deployed to manage the event.

The Ibrahimi Mosque, known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs, holds religious significance for both Muslims and Jews as the purported burial site of Prophet Abraham and his family members. Under the terms of a 1997 Hebron Agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Israel assumed security control over the Old City, while Hebron’s Palestinian municipality retained planning and construction authority. However, in June, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a unilateral takeover of these powers, diminishing Palestinian oversight of the holy site and sparking concerns about Israel's intentions to claim exclusive Jewish use. This recent closure follows a 10-day siege of Hebron by Israeli forces, which resulted in hundreds of arrests, the demolition of 15 homes, and the displacement of over 3,300 Palestinians. Israeli settlers have been progressively increasing their presence in Hebron’s Old City, acquiring Palestinian properties and establishing new outposts under the protection of the Israeli military.