HEBRON, June 16, 2026 (WAFA) – The Hebron Municipality and the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee on Tuesday rejected an announcement by the Israeli government, delivered by far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, concerning plans to divide Hebron and seize additional Palestinian land and properties.
They also condemned his statements regarding the transfer of authority over the Old City and the Ibrahimi Mosque to Israeli administration.
Speaking during a ceremony marking the Islamic New Year at the Ibrahimi Mosque, Mayor of Hebron, Yousef Al-Jaabari, reaffirmed the municipality’s categorical rejection of Israeli measures aimed at stripping it of its authority over the mosque, the Old City, and their surroundings.
He said the Israeli decision to revoke the Hebron Agreement and strip the municipality of its powers in the Old City constitutes a serious violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and their national institutions, as well as a renewed attempt to impose control over the central part of Hebron City.
Al-Jaabari stressed that the Old City and the Ibrahimi Mosque are an integral part of the Palestinian city of Hebron, emphasizing that such unilateral decisions are null and void and will not alter the city’s identity or its residents’ resilience in holding onto their land and holy sites.
He noted that the continued Palestinian presence at the Ibrahimi Mosque and the performance of prayers there despite Israeli restrictions and military checkpoints affirms that the Palestinian people are the rightful owners of the land.
He added that all attempts to impose a fait accompli on the ground will fail in the face of citizens’ steadfastness.
The mayor further affirmed that the Hebron Municipality will continue to fulfill its national and service responsibilities toward all residents of the city and will remain alongside citizens in the Old City and across Hebron in cooperation with all official and national institutions.
He stressed that such measures will neither deprive Palestinians of their rights nor grant legitimacy to Israeli control over the city and its holy sites.
For his part, Chairman of the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee Mohannad Al-Jaabari said that these statements come in the context of election campaigning led by extremist ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, confirming that the committee has filed legal cases to halt 22 Israeli government decisions aimed at seizing Palestinian lands and properties in the Old City, the latest of which concern excavation works being carried out in the Tel Rumeida area.
He confirmed that the committee has filed legal cases challenging 22 Israeli government decisions aimed at seizing Palestinian lands and properties in the Old City, the latest of which concern excavation works being carried out in the Tel Rumeida area.
He affirmed that these decisions will not pass, and that the city of Hebron and its Ibrahimi Mosque will remain under Palestinian jurisdiction, in accordance with the commitments of the Palestinian government under agreements signed between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
T.R.
