Thousands of Jewish settlers, led by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, stormed the Ibrahimi Mosque in the Old City of al-Khalil on Friday to mark the Jewish holiday of Chayei Sarah (Life of Sarah).

Aref Jaber, a local activist defending the area against Israeli violations, reported that several buses transported settlers to the mosque, where they performed Talmudic rituals under heavy military protection.

According to Jaber, the Israeli army imposed a curfew on Palestinian residents of the Old City and completely sealed off the area, allowing settlers to enter the mosque complex uninterrupted. Ministers from the Israeli government, including Ben-Gvir, accompanied the settlers during the incursion.

The Ibrahimi Mosque, located in the heart of al-Khalil, has been a flashpoint for tensions since the 1994 massacre, when Jewish extremist Baruch Goldstein killed 29 Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque. Following the massacre, Israeli authorities divided the mosque between Muslim and Jewish worshippers, allocating the larger portion to Jews.

Friday’s events are part of ongoing efforts by Israeli settlers and authorities to assert dominance over the site, exacerbating tensions in the occupied West Bank. The actions have drawn criticism from Palestinians, who see them as provocations and violations of their religious rights.

The storming of the mosque comes amid rising settler activity in the occupied West Bank, supported by members of Israel's far-right government. Local Palestinian residents continue to face restrictions, curfews, and military actions that disrupt daily life, particularly during religious holidays observed by Jewish settlers. (ILKHA)