Hebron, March 3 — Israeli authorities blocked the Muslim call to prayer (Adhan/Azaan) at the Ibrahimi Mosque in occupied Hebron 44 times in February, according to figures released by the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.
The Palestinian Information Centre reported that Israeli forces and settlers have intensified attacks on Islamic holy sites, citing tourism as a pretext.
“Occupation forces expelled several ministry employees from the Ibrahimi Mosque without reason and barred them from entry,” it said.
The ministry stated that these actions are part of an Israeli attempt to empty the mosque of worshippers and staff, following the expulsion of its director last week.
The ministry further noted that Israel's continued violations at the mosque disregard international laws and conventions, including its 2017 UNESCO designation as a Palestinian cultural heritage site.
Calling for international intervention, the ministry urged relevant global institutions to take action to end these violations and preserve the site's religious and historical significance.
The Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, revered by Muslims, Jews, and Christians, is believed to house the tombs of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his family. The site is divided between Muslim and Jewish worshippers under heavy Israeli military control.
Built by Herod in the 1st century BCE, the structure has served as a Jewish shrine, Byzantine church, and mosque.
In 1994, Jewish extremist Baruch Goldstein killed 29 Palestinian worshippers inside, triggering global condemnation. UNESCO designated it a Palestinian World Heritage Site in 2017, a move Israel opposed.