PA TV: Israel closed Muslim holy sites over malicious war “pretext”
Holy hypocrisy! The Palestinian Authority's incitement machine against Israel is working overtime during the current Iran war. Palestinian Media Watch has now caught PA TV repeatedly bashing Israel for closing the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs on what they call a "pretext" of protecting the public, without mentioning that Israel has closed off all the country's Jewish holy sites as well, and that the PA's own police is issuing similar directives to prevent large gatherings in the face of deadly Iranian missile strikes:
Official PA TV host: "The Israeli occupation forces prevented night prayers and Tarawih prayer from being held at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. The occupation forces closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem under the pretext of security tension following Iran's attack. The [PA] Jerusalem District reported that the occupation forces forced the worshippers to leave the Al-Aqsa Mosque in preparation for its full closure to prayers…The occupation forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque (i.e., Cave of the Patriarchs) under the pretext of security tension after Iran's attack."
Official PA TV reporter: "The occupation (i.e., Israel) is waiting for any excuse to close the noble Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. This morning, [Feb. 28, 2026,] the Israeli authorities closed the mosque until further notice."
[Official PA TV News, Feb. 28, 2026]
Official PA TV omits crucial pieces of information. Firstly, that the Israeli Home Front Command's directive applied to all holy sites in Israel. The Jerusalem Municipality posted this notice for Jerusalem, but the same rule was applied everywhere:
"In accordance with the [Israeli] Home Front Command's instructions, all holy sites in the Old City [of Jerusalem] are closed to the entry of worshippers and visitors, and the police are working to enforce the instructions with the aim of maintaining the security and safety of the citizens."
[Jerusalem Municipality website, Feb. 28, 2026]
The Western Wall, closed for public safety, is captured in a webcam image on March 2, 2026.
The other thing PA TV kept from their viewers was that Palestinian police are themselves making similar safety recommendations to those issued by Israel's Home Front Command:
"The [PA] Police urged all citizens to take the utmost care and caution, not to go up to rooftops for the purpose of photographing or monitoring what is happening in the sky, and (emphasized) the necessity of staying in safe places and avoiding gatherings, as this may pose a direct danger to their lives."
[Raya.ps news website, March 1, 2026]
Finally, Ibrahimi Mosque Director Sheikh Mu'taz Abu Sanina was interviewed on the privately-owned Hebron radio station "Dream" in the afternoon of the initial closure of the Cave of the Patriarchs. There, Abu Sanina revealed that the entire building was closed – including the side used primarily for Jewish worship.
When the radio host probed to see if there was any harsh treatment involved in enforcing the closure, Abu Sanina said there wasn't. He then reiterated the specific safety reasons for the decision and said the mosque would reopen once the emergency passed:
"Radio host: There are reports about the closure of the esteemed Ibrahimi sacred compound (Cave of the Patriarchs) and the expulsion of worshippers and workers, and that the place is closed until further notice. How accurate is this news?
Sheikh Mu'taz Abu Sanina: The reports are true... The occupation forces raided the Haram Compound at 8:15 in the morning and expelled all the worshippers and workers from it, and of course, they informed us, the administration of the sacred compound, of the complete closure of the Ibrahimi sacred compound. In both the "usurped" part (i.e. the Jewish prayer areas) and [the part] of the Muslims - [there will be] closure of the sacred compound [Haram] until further notice.
Radio Host: ...Were there any arrests, abuse, and the like, or did they just ask you to leave?
Abu Sanina: Yes, there was only a request to leave the sacred compound, and this [stems] from the escalation of the emergency situation that the occupation (Israel) announced. They informed us of the matter, and all the workers and worshippers left the compound, and we were informed that the compound is closed until further notice... because the occupation (Israel) raised the alert level due to the ongoing Iranian-Israeli war.
We, of course, informed the relevant parties..., and in the event of a decision or new announcement, I, God willing, will be in contact with the people and inform them about the opening of this compound."
[Dream Media Network, Feb. 28, 2026]
It was indeed an example where official PA TV went further than local, privately-operated Palestinian media to curate the false narrative that Israel is maliciously preventing freedom of worship for Palestinians.