Latest news with #IslamicWaqf
Middle East Eye
6 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Palestinians warn of ‘dangerous' Israeli plan to hand Ibrahimi Mosque to settlers
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. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 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. Amid Iran war, Israel seals off Al-Aqsa Mosque in unprecedented move Read More » 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.
Days of Palestine
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Israel shuts down Al-Aqsa and Holy Sepulchre for 12th day, blocks Palestinian access
DaysofPal – For the 12th consecutive day, Israeli occupation forces have kept both the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre closed to worshippers, enforcing sweeping restrictions on Palestinian access to Jerusalem's Old City and places of worship. These extraordinary actions coincide with a stepped-up military crackdown in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Local sources confirmed that the Al-Aqsa Mosque remains completely closed to worshippers, with entry permitted only for Islamic Waqf staff and mosque guards. The same applies to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which has been entirely shut off to Christian worshippers. Access to the Old City itself has been limited to residents only, enforced through a network of military checkpoints. 'These are unjustified and unacceptable measures,' said Sheikh Akrama Sabri, the preacher at Al-Aqsa Mosque. 'Israel is exploiting the atmosphere of war, first in Gaza, then with Iran, to impose tighter control over Al-Aqsa and to undermine the authority of the Islamic Waqf, the sole legitimate custodian of the mosque.' Sabri stressed that Israel's policies are deliberately designed to 'prevent worshippers from accessing the mosque,' calling the ongoing closure 'worrying and dangerous.' The Israeli restrictions, which began intensifying on April 13, have expanded to a full-scale lockdown of key roads and neighborhoods throughout East Jerusalem and the West Bank. This includes road closures between Jerusalem and Ramallah, particularly the Jaba checkpoint, and the sealing of neighborhood entrances in Al-Tur and other areas using concrete blocks. Night raids have become frequent in areas including Jabal al-Mukaber, al-Issawiya, al-Tur, Wadi al-Joz, and Kufr Aqab, where residents report the use of tear gas and stun grenades inside homes. An Anadolu correspondent reported that many shops in the Old City have shut down due to the restrictions, dealing a severe blow to the local economy. Ziad al-Hamouri, director of the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights, described the measures as 'unprecedented,' noting that while similar closures were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, 'since the start of the war on Iran, they have been far more severe.' 'Israel is trying to destroy the commercial sector in the Old City,' al-Hamouri said. 'These restrictions are part of an effort to push out the 35,000 Palestinian residents who live there.' He added that Israel's strategy includes 'a combination of neighborhood closures, commercial strangulation, and psychological pressure through repeated night raids.' The left-wing Israeli organization Ir Amim, which monitors developments in Jerusalem, confirmed a 'sharp escalation of restrictions and forced closures' since Israel's recent attack on Iran. 'In a matter of days, we documented a series of aggressive measures taken by Israeli security forces,' the organization reported. 'These include night raids, the use of force inside residential buildings, and arrests based solely on social media activity, all targeting Palestinians.' The group emphasized that the emergency measures reflect 'systematic discrimination against East Jerusalem residents,' who continue to suffer from chronic infrastructure neglect. It also highlighted the severe disparity in civil protection: while new bomb shelters have been constructed in West Jerusalem, less than 10% of East Jerusalem neighborhoods have access to any shelter facilities, leaving roughly 400,000 Palestinians exposed during escalations. The Israeli government has not issued an official explanation for the continued closure of the city's holiest sites, nor for the sweeping measures imposed on Palestinians in and around Jerusalem. Israeli raids in the broader West Bank, which includes Jenin, Tulkarm, and the Nour Shams refugee camp, have destroyed hundreds of homes, killed dozens of Palestinians, and forced over 40,000 to flee their homes since January 21. Shortlink for this post:
Arab News
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Israeli authorities arrest four Al-Aqsa guards, storm old prayer hall
LONDON: Israeli authorities arrested four guards at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during a search raid on Saturday night inside the compound's old prayer hall. The Jerusalem Governorate, affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, said that the detainees were identified as Mohammad Arbash, Ramzi Al-Zaanin, Basem Abu Juma, and Iyad Odeh. Several other guards and a firefighter in the compound were interrogated at the site by Israelis, the Wafa news agency reported. Just after midnight on Saturday, Israeli forces stormed the old prayer hall at Al-Aqsa, a subterranean area beneath the Qibli Mosque, damaging its contents after breaking into storage cabinets and searching the premises, Wafa added. The governorate said the latest Israeli action was part of efforts to assert control over the mosque's administration and undermine the authority of the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem. After less than a week of complete closure under a state of emergency linked to the ongoing war with Iran, the Al-Aqsa Mosque was reopened by Israeli authorities, allowing Palestinian and other Muslim worshippers to enter the site under strict regulations, Wafa reported.
Middle East Eye
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israel reinstates full closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli forces on Sunday morning reinstated the full closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, barring worshippers from entry except for mosque guards and Islamic Waqf staff. The closure followed an overnight raid by Israeli police, during which they stormed prayer halls, vandalised sacred spaces, and removed worshippers by force. They also arrested four mosque guards while other were interrogated on-site. The Islamic Waqf condemned the violations, warning that repeated Israeli attempts to assert security control over the mosque aim to alter the religious and political status quo. The incident comes after nine days of restricted access to the mosque amid the Israeli war on Iran. On 13 June, Israeli forces completely shut down Al-Aqsa Mosque, citing the ongoing war with Iran (Ahmad GHARABLI/AFP)
Middle East Eye
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Amid Iran war, Israel seals off Al-Aqsa Mosque in unprecedented move
Throughout his life, Dr Mustafa Abu Sway has always performed congregational prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque alongside thousands of worshippers. Even during Covid-19 pandemic closures, dozens were still permitted to pray at the mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites, located in Jerusalem's Old City. But this week, for the first time in his life, he found himself praying alone within the vast 144,000-square-metre complex. 'Even the guard wasn't there,' Abu Sway, a member of the Islamic Waqf Council in Jerusalem, told Middle East Eye. 'I was completely alone.' The Islamic Waqf, or religious endowment, is a Jordanian-appointed organisation overseeing the management of Al-Aqsa Mosque. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'I won't deny it, I had tears in my eyes,' Abu Sway added. On Friday, Israeli forces completely shut down Al-Aqsa Mosque, citing the ongoing war on Iran. But Palestinian residents and religious officials fear more is at play. The move fits a broader pattern, Palestinians say, in which Israel exploits major events to implement significant changes affecting Palestinians, all while avoiding local and international backlash. The aim is to impose a new reality on Al-Aqsa, one that would ultimately divide the site between Muslims and Jews. 'There is concern that Israel has objectives far beyond public safety,' said Fakhri Abu Diab, a Palestinian activist and expert on Jerusalem affairs. 'It is increasingly clear that they are working to empty Al-Aqsa Mosque, possibly preparing for something larger under the guise of security.' Lockdown at Al-Aqsa The closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque came into effect on Friday morning, shortly after Israel launched strikes on Iran. Worshippers were forcibly removed by Israeli forces following dawn prayer, and the mosque's gates were sealed shut. Only Islamic Waqf workers, responsible for maintaining the mosque, have been allowed entry since. 'Al-Aqsa is under lockdown,' said a Palestinian worker inside the mosque, speaking anonymously to MEE. He added that whenever worshippers attempted to reach the mosque for prayers, they were beaten by Israeli forces. 'What's troubling is that we don't know how long it will remain shut. There's no end date' - Mustafa Abu Sway, a member of the Islamic Waqf Council in Jerusalem 'Every entrance has a checkpoint,' he continued. The closure, now entering its fifth day, is unprecedented in recent memory. In 2014 and then in 2017, Israeli forces briefly closed the mosque amid heightened tensions in Jerusalem. The 2014 closure was described as a 'declaration of war' by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at the time. Before that, no such days-long closure has been recorded since Israel's occupation of the city in 1967. Although Israeli authorities claim the closure is temporary, those on the ground remain unconvinced. 'There is no convincing reason for the mosque to be closed like this,' said Abu Sway. 'This move raises serious concerns about Palestinians being forced into a new reality.' He argued that if large gatherings are the concern, limiting the number of worshippers allowed in at a time would be a reasonable solution. But a complete closure, he added, is simply 'unfair and unjust'. 'Al-Aqsa has never been closed like this before,' he told MEE. 'What's more troubling is that we don't know how long it will remain shut. There's no end date, and no clarity about how long this war will continue.' Changing Al-Aqsa's status quo Beyond the immediate frustration of being locked out, Palestinians fear Israel is using the current crisis to impose lasting changes on the historic site. With the world's focus now divided between the wars on Gaza and Iran, many worry Israeli authorities are quietly advancing plans long resisted by Palestinians. 'Sadly, 99 percent of this plan has already been imposed under the shadow of the war on Gaza. It's become a reality' - Aouni Bazbaz, director of international affairs, Islamic Waqf 'Israel is using war conditions to impose new restrictions and realities,' said Aouni Bazbaz, director of international affairs at the Islamic Waqf. Bazbaz and others point to a long-standing Israeli effort to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque both spatially and temporally, restricting Muslim access during certain times while gradually increasing Jewish presence, often under police protection. 'They've been working on this for over 20 years,' he said. 'Sadly, 99 percent of this plan has already been imposed under the shadow of the war on Gaza. It's become a reality.' Abu Diab echoed that concern. 'The eastern section of the mosque, Bab al-Rahma, has been effectively turned into an undeclared temple,' he said. Israeli settlers and far-right activists raid Al-Aqsa Mosque almost daily, with their numbers steadily increasing over the past two decades. Al-Aqsa Mosque: Israeli raids and incursions explained Read More » In recent months, they have raised the Israeli flag and regularly performed Jewish religious practices in the eastern section of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, in an area known as Bab al-Rahma. Both actions were previously blocked by Israeli authorities, fearing a Palestinian backlash. Unsolicited visits, prayers, and rituals by non-Muslims at Al-Aqsa are prohibited under decades-old international agreements known as the status quo. However, Israeli authorities and settlers frequently violate these norms. 'Only a few weeks ago, settlers were dancing there and thanking [Israeli National Security Minister Itamar] Ben Gvir for his role. It's clear they're celebrating what they see as a shift in control.' Both Bazbaz and Abu Diab believe these developments are part of a broader strategy to 'normalise' Al-Aqsa's closure, particularly during Jewish holidays, as has already happened at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. 'The public is being conditioned to accept closures,' said Abu Diab. 'They want to diminish the sanctity of Al-Aqsa in people's minds, to make it seem normal that it's shut down.' Increasing restrictions While Al-Aqsa's gates remain closed to the public, those permitted to enter - primarily Waqf staff - face severe movement restrictions, deepening concerns about Israeli overreach. 'Employees are not allowed to move freely within the mosque and its courtyards,' said Abu Diab. 'The police stationed at the gates restrict where staff can go, telling them there's no need to patrol because 'Al-Aqsa is closed.' This signals a dangerous shift in control over the space.' A mosque worker, speaking anonymously, described difficulties staff face accessing the site. 'For example, some colleagues try to enter through Lion's Gate but are told to go around to Silsilah Gate,' he explained. 'That route is much longer, but they walk it anyway. When they finally reach Silsilah, police say, 'We'll open this gate at another hour.'' Israeli forces prevent Muslim worshippers from entering Jerusalem's Old City after blocking access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem 13 June 2025 (Reuters/Ammar Awad) Abu Sway also described new limits on his access. 'Today I had to wait outside one of the gates until noon because employees are only allowed in during two specific time slots,' he said. 'I was forced to wait until 12:00 before the police opened the gate. This has never happened before.' Across the Old City, checkpoints and curfews have made movement nearly impossible for most Palestinians. Residents report being turned away even when trying to access the mosque for prayer or work. 'The police look at your ID. If you're not a resident of the Old City, they don't let you in,' said Abu Sway. 'We are denied even our basic right to access our places of worship' - Fakhri Abu Diab, expert on Jerusalem affairs Bazbaz fears the restrictions will only intensify. 'Yesterday I told my wife, with what I've seen recently, I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years we need to book an appointment through an app just to pray.' Meanwhile, just outside Al-Aqsa's Mughrabi Gate, Israelis continue to have unrestricted access to the Western Wall Plaza. 'They are not prevented from reaching their prayer site,' said Abu Diab. 'We, on the other hand, are blocked from ours.' For him, this is the most painful part. 'We are denied even our basic right to access our places of worship. "If people don't wake up quickly and push to change the situation, we'll find ourselves facing a new reality."
