On the anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre.. A deeply rooted Islamic identity in the heart of Hebron

 With its ancient stones, the noble Ibrahimi Mosque stands tall, nestled amidst old alleys, buildings, mosques, and minarets that carry the history of prophets and the heritage of a holy city. Despite the occupation's infiltration of its surroundings and interior, and the difficult reality, the spirit of the place bears witness to the steadfastness of its Arab Islamic identity, no matter how the conditions change in the city of Hebron, which preserves its history through the resilience of its residents who maintain prayer and presence, clinging to their roots. The Ibrahimi Mosque remains the jewel of the city and its beating heart whose light never fades, one of the most important Palestinian religious and historical symbols.Sheikh Moataz Abu Sneineh, director of the Ibrahimi Mosque, said that the mosque, which combines the sanctity of the place and the importance of heritage, has made it a target of Israeli occupation ambitions. For decades, the mosque has faced severe challenges as a result of these settlement ambitions that seek to Judaize it and impose full control over it. He pointed out that the occupation's plans to seize and control the Ibrahimi Mosque and fully Judaize it under its sovereignty are clearly and explicitly evident in light of the occupation government's decision to transfer the administration of the Ibrahimi Mosque from the Islamic Endowments to the administration of the "Kiryat Arba" settlement.Abu Sneineh added that the matter is not merely an administrative procedure, but carries serious political and religious dimensions, as it is feared that it will open the door to deepening settlement control over the mosque and its surroundings, and provide legal cover for expanding the influence of settlers within the Old City, at the expense of the Palestinian presence. He pointed out that for decades, the occupation and settlers have sought to impose a new reality within the Ibrahimi Mosque, through temporal and spatial division, and tightening restrictions on Muslim worshipers, leading to repeated attempts to convert it into a Jewish synagogue. He explained that the transfer of administration may accelerate the seizure of Palestinian buildings surrounding the mosque, under the pretext of organization and administration.Abu Sneineh explained that any change in the administration of the Ibrahimi Mosque – which is not only a religious site, but a historical witness to the Arab and Islamic identity of Hebron – is considered a direct infringement on sovereignty and historical right, and a blatant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions that emphasize the protection of religious holy sites in the occupied territories. He stressed that the current stage is a sensitive and dangerous stage in the history of the Ibrahimi Mosque and the city of Hebron, where administrative decisions intersect with a broader settlement project that threatens both the place and the people. He emphasized that the Ibrahimi Mosque remains a symbol of steadfastness in the face of attempts at obliteration and Judaization.For his part, Amjad Karaja, Director General of Hebron Endowments, said that the occupation seeks to seize what remains of the Ibrahimi Mosque by changing its historical features. He pointed out that the measures and practices imposed on this Islamic holy place have been implemented meter by meter, with the aim of emptying the mosque, its surroundings, and the Old City, and thus controlling it. He explained that only a small part remains after the occupation usurped 63% of it, and the violations did not stop at the division, but the attacks by settlers continue under the protection of the Israeli army, who storm it in thousands and hold noisy parties and Talmudic prayers inside it, in a blatant violation of the sanctity and sacredness of the place.Karaja considered that the increasing occupation measures against the Ibrahimi Mosque – which include closing all entrances to the mosque except one, harassing visitors and worshipers in an attempt to reduce their numbers, preventing the call to prayer from the mosque's minarets, in addition to repeated attacks on the mosque's electricity network and attempts to cut off electricity to the section under the administration of the Islamic Endowments, leading to the refusal to hand over its halls, courtyards, sections, and facilities as is customary on Fridays of Ramadan each year, in an unprecedented step – aim to entrench this new reality and pave the way for full control over the Ibrahimi Mosque.Karaja called on UNESCO, which has placed the Ibrahimi Mosque on its World Heritage List, to work to stop the occupation's aggressions and violations against the mosque, considering that these violations constitute a blow to the systems and laws adopted by the organization.