The director of the Ibrahimi Mosque, Mu'taz Abu Sneineh, said on Tuesday that Israel's lighting of the "Star of David" on the roof of the mosque represents a "dangerous precedent" within a plan to Judaize it.
He explained in a statement to Anadolu Agency that the sanctuary is witnessing "repeated and systematic attacks at an escalating pace," noting that the raising of Israeli flags and the placement of Jewish religious symbols, including the Star of David which is lit at night, reflect "attempts to Judaize the place and turn it into a synagogue."
He added that these measures are being implemented "without any regard for the sanctity of the place or the feelings of Muslims," and are part of a series of violations that include "allowing settlers to enter and tamper with the facilities of the sanctuary."
He pointed out that among these violations was "the encroachment on the shrine of the Prophet Jacob, peace be upon him," where the curtain covering the shrine was changed and replaced with another one bearing Hebrew phrases and Torah words.
He pointed out that the Israeli authorities justify these measures as restoration work, "but in essence they aim to change the religious and historical character of the sanctuary," explaining that painting and maintenance work is being carried out in parts of the site.
The Ibrahimi Mosque, located in the Old City of Hebron, has been subject to strict measures and temporal and spatial division for years, amid Palestinian demands to stop the violations and preserve its historical and legal status.
In 1994, Israel divided the mosque into 63% for Jews and 37% for Muslims, following a massacre committed by a settler that resulted in the killing of 29 Palestinian worshippers.
In a related context, Israeli settlers raised the Israeli flag on Tuesday during their storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.
Settlers renewed their incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound through the Mughrabi Gate, under the protection of Israeli occupation police. They performed Talmudic rituals and loudly recited prayers, particularly in the eastern section, as part of what they call "epic prostration." Settlers also circulated photos showing the Israeli flag being raised inside the mosque, with the Dome of the Rock in the background.
This move comes in conjunction with calls by far-right groups to raise the flag inside the Al-Aqsa compound, coinciding with what is called "Israel's Declaration Day" according to the Hebrew calendar.
The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem considers these practices a violation of the status quo, while the Israeli police do not prevent the settlers from carrying them out.
Since 2003, Israeli police have allowed settlers to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque daily, except on Fridays and Saturdays, amid continuous demands from the Waqf to stop these incursions, without response.
The West Bank has witnessed an escalation in attacks by settlers and the Israeli occupation army since October 2023, resulting in the martyrdom of at least 1,150 Palestinians, the injury of about 11,750, and the arrest of nearly 22,000, amid international warnings of further escalation.
