Israeli occupation authorities on Thursday began construction on the roof of the historic Hebron Municipality building in the Ein al‑Askar area of the Old City of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank, in what Palestinian officials described as a direct assault on a protected cultural heritage site.
The Hebron Municipality said the old municipal building, which has been sealed by an Israeli military order for years, is one of the most important historical and national landmarks in the Old City, an area listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The Municipality stressed that any alteration or construction on the structure constitutes a clear violation of international conventions governing the protection of cultural and human heritage.
According to the municipality, the construction aims to impose a new reality on the ground in violation of local and international law, forming part of a broader colonial expansion targeting Hebron’s historic sites, religious landmarks, and architectural heritage.
The Hebron Municipal Council called on international institutions and human rights organizations to intervene immediately to halt the assault and prevent attempts to alter the historical identity of the Old City.
It reaffirmed its rejection of the measures and said it will pursue the case through all available legal channels to stop the violations and hold those responsible accountable.
Members of the municipal council visited the site to assess the situation firsthand and follow up on the necessary legal and administrative steps.
