OCCUPIED PALESTINE — The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said that Israeli settlers and occupation forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque 28 times during January, while Israeli authorities blocked the call to prayer at the Ibrahimi Mosque in occupied Hebron 57 times in the same month.
In its monthly report documenting violations against religious sites, the ministry said Israeli forces and settlers sharply escalated their attacks on Al-Aqsa mosque, both through repeated incursions and through dangerous Judaization plans targeting the holy mosque.
The ministry said Israeli forces tightened restrictions on worshippers, especially during dawn prayers, and repeatedly obstructed entry to Al-Aqsa mosque. Soldiers stopped young Palestinians, checked their IDs, and imposed security measures around the Old City of occupied Jerusalem and at the mosque’s gates. According to the Islamic Awqaf Department, 4,397 settlers entered Al-Aqsa in organized groups throughout January under Israeli police protection.
The report also noted incursions near the Qibli Prayer Hall and the Dome of the Rock during Friday sermons and prayers. Settlers performed “epic prostration” rituals during the raids. The ministry stated that the acts represent a clear violation of the sanctity of the site.
In the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, southern West Bank, the ministry said Israeli forces repeatedly blocked the call to prayer and continued to close the market gate leading to the mosque on a daily basis. Israeli authorities have also kept the eastern gate shut and covered its windows since the start of 2025. Worshippers and mosque staff face degrading searches, verbal abuse, and insults, according to the report.
The ministry said Israeli forces continue excavation and construction work inside the Ashrafiya area near the Ibrahimi Mosque, without disclosing the nature of the activities. It also reported that at least 550 Israeli soldiers stormed the mosque during January and targeted mosque staff.
The ministry described these actions as a blatant assault on the authority of the Awqaf, a dangerous violation of the mosque’s sanctity, and an attempt to impose control over the holy site. Beyond Al-Aqsa and the Ibrahimi Mosque, Israeli forces also stormed the Jawhar and Al-Shuhada mosques in Hebron.
The report further documented an attack by settlers who spat on the Church of Gethsemane in occupied Jerusalem last Thursday, calling the incident a grave violation driven by religious extremism and hatred. — QNN
