Hamas condemns closure of Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron; raids and arrests across the West Bank

Hamas has condemned Israel’s decision to close the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to Muslim worshippers during Jewish holidays, opening it instead to Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement published on its official Telegram channel, Hamas described the move as a “flagrant attack on the sanctity and identity of the mosque” and part of what it called a “systematic policy” targeting Islamic holy sites.

The closure, which began Sunday afternoon, coincided with Yom Kippur and marked the second time in less than a week that Israel closed the mosque.

Hamas warned against continued Israeli violations at the Ibrahimi Mosque and Al-Aqsa Mosque, urging Arab and Islamic powers to take urgent action to protect religious sites in occupied Palestine.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces carried out a wave of raids across the West Bank: troops entered Palestinian homes in Ya’bad, southwest of Jenin, at dawn, raided Tuqu’, southeast of Bethlehem, and al-Ram, north of occupied East Jerusalem, where they fired tear gas at homes.

Israeli authorities erected a metal barrier at the entrance to Arranah, northeast of Jenin, while Israeli settlers burned vehicles in Beit Ummar, south of the West Bank. Israeli troops also raided Salfit, Bruqin and Kafr al-Dik in the west, arresting five Palestinians.

Source: Al Jazeera — “Iran war live”, 21 September 2026