RAMALLAH, June 16, 2026 (WAFA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine rejected any attempt to alter the legal, historical, and political status quo of Hebron and condemned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s decision to strip the Hebron Municipality of its authority over parts of the city, including the Ibrahimi Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed as endangered.
The Ministry stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over Hebron or any Palestinian city, affirming that the Palestinian people’s ties to Hebron are rooted in historical rights, international law, and an indigenous presence spanning thousands of years. It added that Israel’s violations of signed agreements, including the 1997 Hebron Protocol, do not create new realities or diminish Palestinian sovereignty.
The Ministry warned that Israel’s continued violations against the Palestinian people and its ongoing impunity will only fuel further escalation, threaten regional stability, and undermine prospects for peace.
It called on the international community, particularly the United States, to act urgently to halt these illegal measures, uphold international law, and advance efforts toward a two-state solution and an end to the Israeli occupation.
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