Israel Blocks Palestinian Worshippers From Entering Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron

Israeli authorities have barred Palestinian worshippers from entering the Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, citing Jewish religious celebrations. A curfew has also been imposed across several areas of Hebron’s Old City.

Local human rights activists reported that from Friday morning, Israeli soldiers shut down all checkpoints leading into the Old City, preventing people from entering or leaving. As a result, many Palestinians were unable to return to their homes and were forced to seek shelter in the houses of relatives elsewhere in the city.

Aref Jaber, a member of the Hebron Defense Committee, said that hundreds of Israeli settlers have held processions in the Old City over the past two days, fully protected by Israeli forces. He added that settlers shouted provocative slogans during the marches.

Jaber expressed concern that Israel is using the curfew as part of a broader plan to take over the entire Ibrahimi Mosque complex and convert it into a synagogue. He said that blocking Muslim worshippers from entering the site is a step toward that objective.

Jewish settlers observed the “Sara’s Day” festival on Friday and Saturday, an annual celebration marking their historical presence in Hebron. The Old City, where the Ibrahimi Mosque is located, remains under full Israeli control. Nearly 400 Jewish settlers live there illegally, guarded by more than 1,500 Israeli soldiers.

In 1994, after a Jewish settler killed 29 Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque, Israel divided the complex—allocating 63% of it for Jewish use and 37% for Muslims. Each year, Israel completely closes the mosque to Muslims for ten days to allow settlers to mark their religious holidays.