Palestinians have warned of a “dangerous” Israeli move reportedly aimed at transferring control of Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque to settlers in the occupied West Bank.
According to a report by Israel Hayom earlier this week, Israel plans to strip the Palestinian-run Hebron Municipality of administrative authority over the historic site.
The site would be handed over to the religious council of the nearby Kiryat Arba settlement, built on Hebron’s land.
The report described the plan as an “unprecedented” step, marking the most significant change to the site’s status since 1994.
The Islamic Waqf in Hebron told Middle East Eye it had not received any official notification.
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Muataz Abu Sneineh, director of the Ibrahimi Mosque, said that if confirmed, the plan would constitute a “blatant and dangerous assault” on a site of deep “religious, historical and archaeological” importance.
He cautioned that the report may be a test to gauge Palestinian reaction before any formal steps are taken.
‘These announcements are dangerous and aim to advance Judaisation plans’
– Muataz Abu Sneineh, Ibrahimi Mosque director
“The mosque’s guards are still performing their duties, and nothing has changed, but these announcements are dangerous and aim to advance Judaisation plans that could alter the status quo here,” he told MEE.
Abu Sneineh added that any interference with the mosque’s affairs or physical structure suggests Israel is exploiting the current wars to impose a new reality on the ground.
“Israel continues its violations and disregards all international laws, as this site is on the Unesco list of Palestinian World Heritage sites, and is recognised by human rights organisations,” he said.
Palestinians reject the plan
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that the reported Israeli plans represent a “blatant violation of international law”.
The ministry urged Unesco and the international community to intervene immediately, warning of the move’s potential to escalate tensions and undermine the sanctity of religious sites.
“The Ministry considers this an unprecedented step in Israel’s ongoing efforts to assert sovereignty over the site, Judaize it, and alter its identity and historical features,” it said in a statement.
Hebron’s mayor, Tayseer Abu Sneineh, echoed the condemnation. In a press statement, he warned that altering the mosque’s status would be a “serious violation of international law and all relevant agreements”, including the Hebron Protocol and the Shamgar Committee recommendations, which were issued after the 1994 Ibrahimi Mosque massacre.
“Despite [its plans] being unjust and unilateral, the occupation continues to adhere to some aspects of these recommendations,” he added.
“We have not yet received an official decision, but in principle, we reject it completely. It is a political, cultural and religious aggression against Hebron, and an attack on the municipality’s legitimate authority, including over the Ibrahimi Mosque and its surroundings.”
Restrictions and violations
The Ibrahimi Mosque has long been subject to Israeli restrictions and violations. These include repeated bans on the call to prayer, the closure of entrances to Muslim worshippers, settler incursions, the confiscation of keys to rooms and courtyards, invasive searches of worshippers, and harassment of nearby residents.
Just last week, Israeli settlers held a wedding in the mosque’s courtyard.
A source within the Hebron Municipality told MEE that municipal crews are routinely harassed and blocked by Israeli soldiers when attempting to access the site.
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Israeli forces deliberately prevent them from completing their work, the source said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.
The Hebron Rehabilitation Committee also faces frequent obstruction by Israeli forces, who prevent any restoration work inside or around the mosque.
The Ibrahimi Mosque is regarded as a holy site by Muslims, Jews and Christians alike as the birthplace of Prophet Abraham, patriarch of all three religions.
It is known to Israelis as the Cave of the Patriarchs.
In 1994, an armed Israeli settler, Baruch Goldstein, entered the complex during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and opened fire on Muslim worshippers, killing 29 people and wounding more than 120.
Following the attack, the site was divided into a mosque and a synagogue, paving the way for regular settler incursions and expanded Israeli control over both the mosque and the city of Hebron.
