The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong warning regarding Israel's move to impose settler control over the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. This action is seen as an unprecedented attempt to Judaize the holy site and alter its fundamental identity.

Reports indicate that the Israeli Civil Administration has transferred the mosque's management from the Hebron municipality to the religious council of the Kiryat Arba settlement. This decision is viewed as a blatant violation of both international law and numerous UN resolutions.

The Ministry has urgently appealed to UNESCO, which designated the Ibrahimi Mosque as a World Heritage site in 2017, to intervene immediately. They seek to halt the implementation of this controversial plan, emphasizing the site's cultural and historical significance.

Hebron Mayor Tayseer Abu Sneineh condemned the transfer as "an assault on the civilization of the city and a blatant violation of international law." He highlighted that Israeli violations of the mosque's sanctity began shortly after the 1967 occupation.

Sheikh Moataz Abu Sneineh, director of the Ibrahimi Mosque, reaffirmed that the site is a purely Islamic endowment property. He emphasized that no official notification regarding the transfer of administrative powers has been received, reinforcing the Palestinian rejection of the decision.

The Ibrahimi Mosque, located in Hebron's Old City, is a highly sensitive site. Since 1994, following a tragic massacre, Israel has spatially divided the mosque, allocating 63% for Jewish use and 37% for Muslims, a move that remains a source of deep contention.

Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2608305/middle-east