Israeli forces have indefinitely closed the historic Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, located in the occupied West Bank, according to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa cited by Al Jazeera on Friday, May 29, 2026. The closure prevented Palestinian worshippers from performing Friday prayers. Soldiers reportedly ordered all worshippers, guards, staff, and caretakers to leave the premises before sealing off the entire mosque area and shutting nearby checkpoints and gates.

The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs condemned the move, describing it as part of ongoing efforts to alter the mosque’s religious and administrative status quo and a serious violation of religious freedom. Local residents said that restrictions on Palestinian movement and worship in Hebron’s Old City have intensified over time, strengthening Israeli control.

The report added that on May 27, under heavy Israeli restrictions, only a limited number of Palestinians were able to perform Eid al-Adha prayers at the mosque. The Ibrahimi Mosque area remains under full Israeli military control, with about 1,500 soldiers deployed to protect roughly 400 settlers.