In brief
On the eve of a Jewish holiday, Israeli troops sealed Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque from Palestinian worshippers, reserving access for Israeli settlers. The move, part of a strategy to reinforce Israeli control amidst historic tensions, followed a decade‑long occupation of the site under the 1997 Hebron Agreement. It came shortly after a violent siege that displaced thousands of Palestinians.
On Friday afternoon, Israeli forces closed Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque to Palestinian worshippers, permitting only Israeli settlers to enter for a scheduled Jewish holiday that would end Saturday night.
The decision, announced by Israeli troops near the mosque’s entrance, was timed to coincide with an annual religious observance commemorating Sarah, the wife of the Prophet Abraham, who believers traditionally say is buried at the site.
Palestinian authorities, led by the Ministry of Religious Endowments, said worshippers and mosque employees were barred from entering and that the call to prayer was suspended. The ministry’s statement stressed that the mosque, which also serves as a site of Jewish reverence, should remain open to all faiths.
Mosque director Moataz Abu Sneineh told Al Jazeera that the Israeli authorities intended to open the prayer halls and courtyards exclusively to Israelis. He noted that the closure conflicts with the holy site’s status as a shared place of worship for Muslims and Jews.
The Ibrahimi Mosque, also known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs, is revered by both religions as the burial place of Abraham and his family. The mosque’s management is tied to a delicate balance of power established by the 1997 Hebron Agreement, which placed security control of the Old City in Israeli hands while granting the Palestinian municipality authority over planning and construction.
In June, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a takeover of the municipal powers that had been shared, effectively removing Palestinian oversight of the holy site’s development projects. Proponents argued the move would improve security, while critics viewed it as an attempt to erase Palestinian influence over a historically contested space.
In the weeks leading up to the holiday, Israeli troops tightened checkpoints and restricted movement throughout Hebron’s Old City, preventing some residents from entering or leaving their homes. Police reports indicated that about 20,000 visitors were expected to attend the Jewish holiday at the mosque, with hundreds of security personnel deployed to maintain order.
The closure follows the conclusion of a 10‑day siege of Hebron that began in late March. The siege resulted in hundreds of arrests, the demolition of fifteen families’ homes, and the displacement of more than 3,300 Palestinians. Israeli forces cited the security situation as justification for the closed access to the mosque.
Analysts say the move elevates a long‑standing conflict over the holy site into a broader struggle for control over the Old City’s governance and access. The decision is seen by many as a statement of priority for Israeli settlement interests during a period of significant public attention on the site.
Local Palestinian residents expressed concern that the mosque’s closure would permanently alter the access rights that had existed for centuries. The Palestine Ministry of Religious Endowments has called for an international review of the decision, arguing that it violates prior agreements and undermines the rights of Palestinian worshippers.
Meanwhile, several Israeli settlers reported an increase in security installations around the mosque, noting that the site has become a focal point for the wider settler‑growth policies that have reshaped Hebron in recent years.
The clash over entry to the Ibrahimi Mosque brings into focus the wider tensions surrounding religious freedom, municipal jurisdiction, and the ongoing debate over the use of contested holy sites in the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict.
