Jerusalem Church Leaders visit Gaza as Palestinians condemn changes at Ibrahimi Mosque

Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa toured medical and educational facilities, including the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, and Al-Azhar University.

According to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the visit reflects the churches’ pastoral responsibility toward Gaza’s residents and carries a message of “consolation, mercy and solidarity” for people affected by the humanitarian crisis. The delegation is also expected to meet clergy members, Christian families and other Palestinians impacted by the conflict.

Church officials said the visit seeks to offer spiritual support and hope at a time when Gaza’s small Christian community, once numbering around 1,000 people, has been significantly reduced by the war and displacement.

Palestinians condemn Israeli actions at Ibrahimi Mosque

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs condemned the Israeli removal of a canopy in the courtyard of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, describing the move as a “new Judaization crime.”

The ministry said the action represents an attempt to alter the mosque’s Islamic, historical and cultural character and warned that it forms part of broader efforts to expand Israeli control over the site.

Palestinian officials called on the international community, UNESCO and human rights organizations to intervene, arguing that the mosque is an Islamic religious endowment and that any changes to its structure violate international agreements protecting religious and historical sites.

The Ibrahimi Mosque, located in Hebron’s Old City under Israeli control, has long been a focal point of tensions between Palestinians and Israelis. The site was divided between Muslim and Jewish worshippers in 1994 following a deadly attack that killed 29 Palestinian worshippers.

Source:AA