Mahmoud al‑Habbash, the Palestinian President’s Advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs and the Chief Islamic Justice of Palestine, condemned the Israeli occupation forces for abducting former Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs and former Chief Judge of the Shari’a Court of Appeals, Dr. Hatim al‑Bakri, in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank’s southern part.
Al‑Habbash said the abduction constitutes a blatant violation of international law and human rights conventions, stressing that the Israeli occupation continues to target Palestinian religious, civic, and community leaders as part of a systematic campaign to weaken national institutions and intimidate Palestinian society.
He described the abduction as an act of political persecution carried out during repeated invasions of Palestinian towns, where Israeli forces storm homes, intimidate residents, and seize public figures without legal justification.
Shortly after abducting al‑Bakri, the soldiers posted a military order shutting down the charitable society he heads, accusing it of what the army called “supporting terrorism,” a claim Palestinian officials and community members reject as part of a broader effort to criminalize social and religious institutions that provide essential charitable services to the community.
Al‑Habbash said these practices amount to collective punishment prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention and reflect a deliberate effort to undermine Palestinian religious authority and restrict the functioning of national institutions.
He affirmed that such violations will not deter Palestinians from fulfilling their religious and national responsibilities, stating that these actions only strengthen the people’s commitment to their rights, principles, and mission to defend their holy sites and serve their communities.
Al‑Habbash added that Palestinians remain steadfast in protecting Islamic and Christian holy places across occupied Palestine, particularly in Jerusalem, where Israeli forces continue to impose restrictions, invade neighborhoods, and enable illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers to escalate attacks on Palestinian communities.
He called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene urgently to secure al‑Bakri’s release and to hold the Israeli occupation authorities accountable for their ongoing violations.
Al‑Habbash stressed that the continued targeting of religious leaders, scholars, and community figures is part of a broader strategy aimed at eroding Palestinian social cohesion and weakening institutional resilience.
Dr. Hatim al‑Bakri is a respected religious scholar and community leader who previously served as Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs and as Chief Judge of the Shari’a Court of Appeals. He is widely known for his work in religious education, community development, charitable work and the protection of Islamic heritage sites.
His abduction comes amid escalating Israeli invasions across the West Bank, where occupation forces continue to install additional military roadblocks and intensify abductions targeting political leaders, journalists, activists, and religious officials.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that these actions form part of a wider campaign of repression aimed at suppressing Palestinian civic life and weakening national institutions.
