250 Hebron families told to leave for up to a year after checkpoint attack

Deputy Mayor Khaled al-Qawasmi reported on Saturday that approximately 250 Palestinian families have been forced from their homes in Hebron. The displacement occurred in the neighborhoods of al-Jalada, Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh. Qawasmi told Middle East Eye that the military began the operation around midnight, instructing residents to vacate within one hour. He noted that the figure is not final due to the ongoing siege.

The eviction follows a shooting on Friday near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint west of Hebron. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three were wounded in the attack. The military stated it launched an 'operation to thwart terrorism' in coordination with the Shin Bet and Border Police. Two suspected attackers were killed by Israeli forces during the operation.

Resident Abdul Hamid Shahada described the incursion as beginning shortly after the Friday attack. He said soldiers accompanied by military vehicles took positions near the homes of Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba, the two alleged perpetrators killed in the incident. Shahada said his family packed small bags with medicines, chargers, and documents, and waited anxiously in their building. He observed soldiers forcing other families out and beating one man. The military directed evacuated families along a route to Al-Salam Street.

The deputy mayor said soldiers told some families they would be kept out of their homes for six months to a year. Others were given no specific timeline, with officers stating residents could return 'until further notice.' Shahada said his family saw neighboring houses left with doors and windows wide open, ransacked and vandalized by soldiers.

The displacement coincided with demolitions in Farsh al-Hawa. Local sources reported that around seven dunums of land were leveled. Israeli forces imposed a broad closure on Hebron and surrounding areas, blocking main entrances. At least 13 Palestinians were arrested, and dozens were detained for field interrogations.

The Hebron Municipality activated an emergency plan to prepare shelters and establish an operations center. Facilities including family guesthouses, the Childhood Happiness Centre, and the Korean Centre were opened to accommodate displaced families. Qawasmi warned that a shelter crisis could occur if the operation expands, given the limited capacity of these centers.

The military operation has not ended, according to Qawasmi. The closure extends to the entrances and gateways of Hebron, with forces deployed across various parts of the city.