Israeli Forces Shoot Palestinian Critically in Hebron, Close Ibrahimi Mosque

A Palestinian man was critically injured by Israeli army gunfire on Friday in the town of Dura, southwest of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Local sources reported that Israeli forces raided Dura, set up a military checkpoint in the town center, and restricted residents' movement. The forces then fired live ammunition at a vehicle, hitting the driver in the chest. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where his condition was described as critical.

In response to the incident, Israeli forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to worshippers and expelled its staff and custodians, who are affiliated with the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. The closure followed a shooting incident at the northern entrance of Hebron, which resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians and injuries to six settlers.

Following the shooting, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Eyal Zamir, approved a security cordon around Hebron and other surrounding villages, according to the official broadcasting authority. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs condemned the mosque's closure and the expulsion of its staff, calling it a "blatant violation of the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and freedom of worship guaranteed by international covenants and laws." The ministry stated that the action is part of a policy to impose control over the mosque and divide it temporally and spatially, denying it its legitimate Islamic administration. It emphasized that the mosque and its grounds are exclusively Islamic endowments and that Israeli measures will not alter its Islamic and historical identity.

The ministry warned of the repercussions of repeated violations against holy sites and religious staff and called for urgent intervention from the international community, human rights organizations, and UNESCO to pressure Israel to cease these actions.