Occupation closes Ibrahimi Mosque and tightens siege on old city of Hebron

Israeli occupation forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron on Wednesday morning, preventing worshippers from reaching it under the pretext of securing settler incursions during Jewish holidays. The closure coincided with tightened military measures, raids, and the detention of the mayor. It is part of the policy of temporal and spatial division since 1994, with the call to prayer banned 155 times and 195 soldiers storming the site in July.

Israeli occupation forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old city of Hebron, south of the occupied West Bank, on Wednesday morning, preventing worshippers and visitors from reaching it under the pretext of securing settler incursions during the so-called Jewish holidays. The closure coincided with tightened military measures around the old city, raids on citizens' homes, and the closure of passages and entrances. Local sources reported that occupation forces imposed severe restrictions on the movement of citizens and closed the mosque completely to worshippers, while allowing settlers to storm it and perform their rituals. On Tuesday, the forces had forced shop owners to close their stores and expelled shoppers under the pretext of securing a provocative march. Occupation forces also detained Hebron's mayor, Yousef al-Jabari, along with engineers for several hours. They raided a well-restoration site belonging to the Hebron Reconstruction Committee in the Jabr neighborhood, detaining workers and supervisors. The closure is part of the policy of temporal and spatial division since the 1994 massacre in which 29 worshippers were killed. According to the Ministry of Awqaf, the forces prevented the call to prayer 155 times during July, and 195 soldiers stormed the mosque in the same month. The measures coincide with escalating settlement plans aimed at changing the historical and demographic character of the old city.