Israel closes Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque to Palestinians for Jewish holiday

Israeli forces have closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron to Palestinian worshippers as thousands of Israeli settlers converge on the site for a Jewish religious celebration. The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments said worshippers and mosque employees had been barred from entering and the call to prayer suspended.

Mosque director Moataz Abu Sneineh told Al Jazeera that Israeli authorities intended to open the mosque’s prayer halls and courtyards exclusively to Israelis. The closure, imposed on Friday afternoon and set to last until 10pm on Saturday, coincides with an annual Jewish observance to commemorate Sarah, a wife of Prophet Abraham, who is traditionally believed to be buried at the site.

Israeli troops tightened checkpoints and restricted movement across Hebron’s Old City, where the mosque is located, preventing some residents from entering or leaving their homes. Israeli forces told The Jerusalem Post they expected about 20,000 visitors at the site for the Jewish holiday, with hundreds of security personnel deployed.