Hebron Displacement: 250 Families Evicted After Checkpoint Killings

Approximately 250 families in Hebron were forced from their homes on Saturday morning after Israeli military forces launched an operation following a shooting incident. The displacement began around midnight, with residents ordered to vacate their dwellings within one hour. Deputy Mayor Khaled al-Qawasmi stated that the figure of 250 families is not final, as the military siege continues and additional evacuations are possible.

The operation started after two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded in a shooting near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint on Friday. The two suspected attackers, identified as Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba, were killed by Israeli military fire during the incident. The army described the subsequent sweep as an operation to thwart terrorism, conducted in coordination with the Shin Bet and the Border Police. Forces searched the area for weapons and what the military termed terrorist infrastructure, while interrogating dozens of suspects.

Evictions occurred in the neighborhoods of al-Jalada, Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh. Abdul Hamid Shahada, a resident of al-Jalada, described the military incursion shortly after the Friday attack. Soldiers and military vehicles positioned themselves near the homes of the Joba family. The military distributed maps designating specific buildings for evacuation. Shahada said his family watched from their windows as forces compelled neighbors to leave. He noted that one man was beaten during the process.

Shahada and his family packed small bags containing medicines, phone chargers, and documents but did not sleep all night. Soldiers directed evacuated families along a specific route toward Al-Salam Street. Some residents stayed with relatives, while others moved to the Child Happiness Centre, which the municipality opened for accommodation. The military told some families they would be kept out for six months to a year. For others, including the Shahada family, the order was to remain out until further notice.

Residents observed their neighbors' houses with doors and windows left open, reporting that soldiers ransacked and vandalized the interiors. The displacement coincided with demolitions in Farsh al-Hawa, where local sources said seven dunums of land were levelled. This affected residential buildings, commercial shops, and industrial facilities. Israeli forces also imposed a broad closure on Hebron, blocking main entrances and roads to the city and surrounding villages.

At least 13 Palestinians were arrested in the city, while dozens were detained for field interrogations. The Hebron Municipality activated an emergency plan in response. This included preparing shelters and establishing an operations center to monitor residents' needs. Qawasmi warned that a shelter crisis could develop if the operation expands, given the limited capacity of current facilities.

The military operation remains active, and the closure extends to all entrances and gateways of Hebron. Forces continue to be deployed across various parts of the city. The municipality is coordinating the distribution of families to guesthouses, the Childhood Happiness Centre, the Korean Centre, and other facilities to manage the influx of displaced residents.