Palestinian Ministry Reports 130-Day Adhan Ban at Ibrahimi Mosque

HEBRON: A ban on the Muslim call to prayer at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron continued for 130 days into October, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.
In its October 2026 report, the ministry said the restrictions had been in place since June 21. It also reported that the mosque was completely closed for four days during October, disrupting worshippers’ access.
The ministry alleged that construction work and blocked passageways had hindered mosque staff and restricted access to several entrances. It said employees and worshippers faced searches and verbal abuse.
According to the report, mosque director Sheikh Moataz Abu Sneineh and chief custodian Hammam Abu Markhiya were detained on October 8. Following their release, both were barred from entering the mosque for one week.
In Jerusalem, the ministry recorded 26 incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during October. It said some participants performed religious rituals in the courtyards during the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
The report also said a ban preventing Sheikh Ikrima Sabri from entering Al-Aqsa had been extended by six months, until April 19, 2027.
Separately, the ministry alleged that Israeli settlers set fire to part of the Sultan Ibrahim Mosque in Mukhmas, in the Ramallah governorate, and painted racist slogans on its walls.
The ministry urged international organisations and human rights bodies to intervene, describing the reported incidents as violations of religious freedom and the protection of places of worship.