250 Hebron Families Evicted After Shooting

Israeli forces evicted approximately 250 Palestinian families from their homes in Hebron early Saturday morning. The displacement followed a shooting incident at the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint on Friday, where two soldiers were killed and three others wounded. The military stated it launched an operation to thwart terrorism in coordination with the Shin Bet and Border Police. Two suspected attackers, identified as Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba, were killed by Israeli fire during the engagement. The army said it was searching for weapons and dismantling infrastructure in the area where the attackers operated.

Residents reported being ordered out at gunpoint with minimal time to gather belongings. The evacuations affected the neighborhoods of al-Jalada, Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh. Abdul Hamid Shahada, a resident of al-Jalada, said soldiers stormed the area shortly after the Friday attack. He described seeing military vehicles take up positions near the homes of the Joba family. The military distributed maps designating specific buildings for evacuation. Shahada and his family remained in their building, packing essentials such as medicines and phone chargers. He said they did not sleep all night while watching other families being forced out. Soldiers directed residents along a route toward Al-Salam Street, where some went to relatives and others to the Child Happiness Centre.

The military told some families they would be out of their homes for six months to a year. Others received instructions to leave until further notice. Shahada noted that soldiers left some neighboring houses with doors and windows open, and that those structures were ransacked and vandalized. The eviction coincided with demolitions of residential and commercial buildings in Farsh al-Hawa. Local sources reported that around seven dunums of land were leveled. Israeli forces imposed a broad closure on Hebron, blocking main entrances and roads while raiding homes and conducting arrests. At least 13 Palestinians were arrested, and dozens were detained for field interrogations.

Khaled al-Qawasmi, deputy mayor of Hebron, stated that the operation began around midnight. He said residents were given one hour to vacate their homes. The evacuation included both adults and children. Qawasmi confirmed that approximately 250 families had left the area so far, noting the figure is not final. The municipality activated an emergency plan to prepare shelters and established an operations center to monitor residents' needs. Facilities opened to accommodate displaced families include the Childhood Happiness Centre, the Korean Centre, and several family guesthouses. Qawasmi warned that the limited capacity of these centers could create a shelter crisis if the military operation expands. The military operation has not ended, and the closure extends to the entrances and gateways of Hebron.

The Hebron Municipality continues to coordinate with families seeking shelter. The military maintains a presence across various parts of the city. The closure affects surrounding villages, towns, and refugee camps. The number of displaced families may rise as the search operations continue in the targeted neighborhoods.