Hebron Deputy Mayor: 250 Families Ordered Out After Checkpoint Killings

Residents of Hebron’s West Bank neighborhoods al-Jalada, Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh were ordered from their homes at gunpoint on Saturday morning. Deputy Mayor Khaled al-Qawasmi stated that approximately 250 families have been forced to leave so far, a number he noted is not final. He said the military began its operation around midnight and gave residents only one hour to vacate their properties.

The displacement followed a shooting near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint on Friday, where two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded. The Israeli military described the response as an 'operation to thwart terrorism,' conducted in coordination with the Shin Bet and Border Police. Two suspected Palestinian attackers, identified as Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba, were killed by military fire. The Joba families reside in the al-Jalada neighborhood, which was a primary focus of the evacuation orders.

Abdul Hamid Shahada, a resident in the affected area, said soldiers stormed the neighborhood shortly after the initial attack. He described a large number of soldiers and military vehicles taking positions near the Joba family homes. The military distributed a map designating specific homes and adjacent buildings for evacuation. Shahada and his family watched from their windows as troops forced other families out, including beating one man. They packed small bags with medicines, phone chargers, and important documents and did not sleep all night.

Soldiers directed evacuating families along a specific route toward Al-Salam Street. From there, some residents went to relatives, while others moved to the Child Happiness Centre opened by the municipality. When asked about their return, soldiers told Shahada’s family only 'until further notice.' However, some other families were informed they would be kept out of their homes for a period ranging from six months to a year. Shahada expressed concern about the condition of their home, noting that neighboring houses were left with doors and windows open, ransacked and vandalized by troops.

The forcible displacement occurred alongside demolitions in Farsh al-Hawa, where local sources reported that around seven dunums of land were levelled. The land targeted residential buildings, commercial shops, and industrial facilities. Israeli forces imposed a broad closure on Hebron and its surrounding villages, towns, and refugee camps. They blocked main entrances and roads, raided homes, conducted searches, and carried out arrests. Local sources said at least 13 Palestinians were arrested in the city, while dozens were detained for several hours for field interrogations.

The Hebron Municipality activated an emergency plan in response to the operation. The plan includes preparing shelters for displaced families and establishing an operations centre to monitor residents' needs. Qawasmi warned that limited capacity at current shelters could create a crisis if the military operation expands. He listed the facilities currently accommodating families, which include family guesthouses, the Childhood Happiness Centre, and the Korean Centre. He noted that the military operation has not ended and that the closure extends to all entrances and gateways of Hebron, with forces continuing to be deployed across various parts of the city.