Hebron: The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission has disclosed that Israeli occupation authorities have issued a decision to seize the roof of the inner courtyard of the Ibrahimi Mosque, located in the city of Hebron. The expropriation order, announced on Monday, specifies the seizure of 288 square meters of the roof area.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the head of the commission, Mu'ayyad Shaaban, expressed concerns over Israel's actions, describing them as part of a gradual and escalating trend targeting religious sites. The move is seen as a violation of established norms, especially following the transfer of authority for work in the Ibrahimi Mosque in February 2025 from the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments to the "Civil Planning Authority."
The situation further escalated with a decision on July 20, 2025, to withdraw supervisory authority from the Hebron Municipality and hand it over to the Religious Council in the Kiryat Arba settlement. This council now has the mandate to manage parts of the Mosque and implement structural changes. Shaaban stressed that these changes undermine Islamic religious authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque and allow direct colonial interference in its management, effectively isolating the Mosque from its Palestinian context and linking it administratively to colonial councils.
Shaaban highlighted that these actions contravene international humanitarian law and violate UNESCO resolutions, which recognize the Ibrahimi Mosque as a World Heritage Site in Danger. He labeled these steps a "full-fledged colonial crime" and urged the international community, especially UNESCO and the United Nations, to fulfill their responsibilities in protecting the Mosque. He asserted that defending the Ibrahimi Mosque is synonymous with defending Hebron's identity and heritage, along with the Palestinian people's right to manage their holy sites and safeguard their religious and cultural sovereignty.
