Israeli occupation authorities have continued to prevent the call to prayer at the historic Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron for a ninth consecutive day, in a dangerous escalation targeting one of the most significant Islamic holy sites in occupied Palestine.

According to local sources, Israeli forces have also barred two senior officials from the mosque's administration from entering the sanctuary, further tightening restrictions on Palestinian religious life and worship in the city.

Palestinian authorities condemned the measures as part of a broader campaign aimed at expanding Israeli control over the Ibrahimi Mosque and altering its historical and religious character. They warned that the ongoing restrictions constitute a violation of the rights of Palestinian worshippers and an assault on Islamic holy sites under occupation.

The suspension of the call to prayer, a central element of Muslim religious practice, has sparked widespread concern among residents and religious leaders in Hebron, who view the move as an attempt to erase the Islamic identity of the mosque and impose new realities on the ground.

Local activists report that restrictions on access to the mosque have intensified significantly since late 2022 and have become even more severe during the ongoing war on Gaza. Worshippers frequently face military checkpoints, closures, and entry bans that limit their ability to pray at the sacred site.

The Ibrahimi Mosque, revered by Muslims as one of the oldest and most important religious landmarks in Palestine, has long been a focal point of tensions due to Israeli policies that divide access to the site and grant extensive privileges to illegal settlers living in the occupied city.

Palestinian religious and civic institutions have called on the international community, Islamic organizations, and human rights groups to intervene and pressure Israel to end its restrictions on worshippers, restore full religious freedoms at the mosque, and halt what they describe as ongoing efforts to Judaize the site and undermine its Islamic heritage.

Residents of Hebron have vowed to continue defending the Ibrahimi Mosque and preserving its religious identity despite mounting restrictions, emphasizing that the holy sanctuary remains an integral part of Palestine's historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage. (ILKHA)