The Israeli occupation authorities have initiated an unprecedented administrative maneuver targeting the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank’s southern part, transferring oversight from the Palestinian-run Hebron Municipality to the “Jewish religious council” operating in the illegal colony of Kiryat Arba.
The decision, led by the so-called Civil Administration—the administrative arm of Israel’s illegal occupation—seeks to fundamentally alter the status quo at the historic holy site.
Among the proposed changes are structural renovations, including the installation of a new roof over “Jacob’s Courtyard,” which Israeli sources say is used for Jewish prayer nearly 90% of the year.
Plans also include deploying a modern fire suppression system and granting Israeli authorities expanded access to the mosque’s surveillance infrastructure.
The move effectively strips Palestinian municipal authorities of their jurisdiction at the compound, reinforcing Israeli control through a settler-led religious body.
Though outwardly framed as an effort to implement architectural upgrades, this administrative takeover effectively introduces new mechanisms of surveillance and control.
Observers have labeled the decision a dramatic escalation in the broader strategy to redefine control in Hebron, with critics warning that it deepens entrenchment of Israeli authority at the expense of Palestinian sovereignty.
