Nov 6, 9:00 PM
Israeli Forces Close Hebron Holy Site to Palestinians for Jewish Holiday
Security measures around the Ibrahimi Mosque restrict local movement as thousands of visitors gather in the Old City.
Israeli security forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to Palestinian worshippers from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening to accommodate an estimated 20,000 Israeli visitors observing a Jewish holiday. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments, mosque employees and worshippers were barred from entering the compound, and the Muslim call to prayer was suspended during the closure.
The director of the mosque, Moataz Abu Sneineh, stated that Israeli authorities opened all prayer halls and courtyards exclusively for Jewish visitors. The closure coincides with an annual Jewish religious observance commemorating Sarah, the wife of Abraham, who is believed to be buried at the holy site along with other patriarchs and matriarchs. In response to the gathering, Israeli military forces established tight checkpoints and restricted movement across Hebron’s Old City, limiting access for local residents trying to leave or reach their homes.
Revered by Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque and by Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs, the sanctuary has long been a focal point of friction in the West Bank. Under the 1997 Hebron Agreement concluded between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, security control over the Old City was assigned to the Israeli military, while planning and municipal administration remained with Palestinian authorities. However, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced in June that Israel would assume planning powers, a decision that Palestinian officials stated undermined local municipal authority over the site.
The temporary shutdown follows a 10-day military operation by Israeli forces in Hebron that ended earlier in the week. According to Palestinian reports, that operation resulted in hundreds of arrests, the demolition of 15 homes, and the displacement of more than 3,300 Palestinian residents. Israeli security officials confirmed to news outlets that hundreds of personnel remain deployed in the area to secure the site until the restriction expires at 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com
