Israel Closes Hebron's Ibrahimi Mosque to Palestinian Worshippers for Jewish Holiday

Israeli forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank city of Hebron to Palestinian worshippers on Friday, November 6, 2026, for a Jewish holiday. Al Jazeera reported that the closure was imposed on Friday afternoon and was set to last until 10pm on Saturday.

The site is known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs. The closure coincides with an annual Jewish observance commemorating Sarah, a wife of Prophet Abraham.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments, worshippers and mosque employees were barred from entering the mosque, and the call to prayer was suspended. Al Jazeera also reported that mosque director Moataz Abu Sneineh said Israeli authorities intended to open the mosque's prayer halls and courtyards exclusively to Israelis.

Israeli forces said they expected about 20,000 visitors at the site for the holiday and had deployed hundreds of security personnel. Troops tightened checkpoints and restricted movement across Hebron's Old City while the closure was in place.

The closure is not the first of its kind this year. On Monday, September 28, 2026, Reuters reported that Israel had closed the mosque, citing Jewish holidays. Under Israeli arrangements, the Ibrahimi Mosque is fully closed to Muslims 10 days a year for Jewish religious holidays.