Israeli occupation authorities have imposed, Tuesday, a full closure on the Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank’s southern part, barring Muslim worshippers from entering the sacred site until Thursday evening.
The closure, which began today, encompasses all prayer halls, courtyards, and surrounding facilities, and is being enforced under the pretext of Jewish religious holidays, the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said.
In addition, Maan News said Israeli occupation forces imposed a strict curfew Tuesday on several eastern neighborhoods surrounding the Ibrahimi Mosque.
Human rights defender and local resident Aref Jaber stated that movement was prohibited in the neighborhoods of Al-Salayma, Jaber, Wadi Al-Hussein, Wadi Al-Nassara, and Ar-Ras. The Israeli army also sealed off Al-Sahla Street, a main thoroughfare in the area.
The lockdown coincides with religious festivities held by Israeli colonizers and forms part of the broader siege imposed on the Ibrahimi Mosque and surrounding colonialist enclaves in central Hebron, Maan said.
Local activists have condemned the restrictions as collective punishment and a violation of basic rights to movement and worship.
The mosque has been sealed off entirely, with access denied to Muslim congregants for a period of three consecutive days.
This move is part of a recurring pattern of restrictions imposed during Jewish festivities, often resulting in the exclusion of Muslim worshippers from one of Islam’s holiest sites in Palestine.
The Palestinian Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs condemned the decision, describing it as “a blatant violation of religious freedom” and “a deliberate attempt to Judaize the Ibrahimi Mosque.” The ministry emphasized that such actions constitute a systematic assault on the mosque’s Islamic identity and sanctity.
The Waqf Ministry warned of escalating Israeli measures targeting the site, including repeated bans on the call to prayer, intrusive security checks at electronic gates, and obstruction of mosque staff from performing their duties.
These practices, the Waft noted, reflect a broader strategy aimed at undermining Muslim access and control over the historic sanctuary.
The ministry called on the international community, particularly UNESCO, to intervene urgently to halt these violations.
It urged global institutions to uphold their responsibility in protecting religious heritage and preserving the exclusively Islamic character of the Ibrahimi Mosque, which is recognized as a World Heritage Site under threat.
