Israeli authorities imposed sweeping restrictions on the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, in the southern West Bank, during Eid al-Adha , in what Palestinian officials describe as a new violation of the longstanding status quo of the religious site.
According to Munjid al-Jaabari, acting director of the Hebron Directorate of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Israeli forces closed the mosque entirely for several hours on Friday morning before reopening it under pressure from Palestinian officials and media coverage.
Israeli soldiers stormed the mosque at around 9:30 a.m., ordered staff to evacuate, and declared the site closed to all.
"We immediately contacted the Palestinian liaison, the Ministry of Endowments in Ramallah, and the media," al-Jaabari told The New Arab .
"This forced the occupation to reverse its decision around 11:30 a.m., but the mosque was reopened under strict conditions," he added.
Access to the mosque was heavily restricted, with entry limited to a single, closely monitored route. Worshippers were forced to pass through electronic checkpoints one at a time, while those without identification or under the age of 24 were denied entry.
Israeli authorities reportedly justified the temporary closure by citing a shortage of soldiers stationed at the site and nearby checkpoints.
The punitive measures come amid broader Israeli-imposed movement restrictions in Hebron , where key checkpoints have remained closed since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023.
Palestinian officials say these policies are part of a wider effort to impose new realities on the ground at the mosque by "Judaising" it, starting with restricting entry to Muslims during Islamic religious occasions.
Al-Jaabari said the restrictions significantly reduced attendance at Eid prayers, which traditionally draw large crowds from across the occupied West Bank.
He also reported that Israeli forces prevented several officials, including Hebron governor Khaled Doudin, from reaching the mosque.
Israeli forces also fired stun grenades to disperse worshippers near the holy site.
Palestinian authorities say Israeli measures also interfered with religious practices. Mosque administrators were barred from bringing in banners welcoming worshippers, as well as water and food supplies, including meals intended for staff fasting on the Day of Arafah.
The Ibrahimi Mosque has been divided since the aftermath of the 1994 massacre carried out by far-right Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein, who killed 29 Palestinian worshippers.
Under arrangements that followed, 63 percent of the site is controlled by Israel and used as a synagogue, while 37 percent remains designated for Muslim worship.
Around the mosque, Israeli forces have installed more than 110 physical obstacles, including gates, barriers, barbed wire, and military posts, across areas such as Tel Rumeida, Shuhada Street, and surrounding neighbourhoods.
These measures have intensified since the start of the Gaza war, further restricting Palestinian movement in the area.