Hebron Sealed: 2,200 Residents Evicted After Checkpoint Shootings
Mayor Yousef Jaabari declared a state of emergency as Israeli forces closed all city entrances and gave families five minutes to leave their homes.
By Yuki Melnyk ·
Roughly 2,200 Palestinians were forced from their homes in Hebron, West Bank, as Israeli forces sealed every entrance to the city on Saturday. Mayor Yousef Jaabari described the situation as a disaster zone, stating that no one can enter or leave the area.
Jaabari told Middle East Eye on Saturday evening that the measures constitute collective punishment. He cited a deadly shooting the previous day as the trigger for the intensified military presence.
Two suspected Palestinians fired on Israeli troops at the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint west of Hebron early Friday. Two soldiers were killed and three others were wounded during the incident.
The evictions impacted residents in Deir Bahala, al-Jalda, and nearby neighborhoods, including elderly people, women, and children. The affected area spans approximately 330 dunams and contains more than 490 housing units. Residents reported that soldiers gave families only five minutes to vacate their properties.
The Palestinian Information Centre stated that at least 40 Palestinians were detained on Saturday evening. Forces also demolished businesses and residential buildings. Video footage shared on social media showed Palestinian truck drivers removing goods from factories before demolition crews arrived.
Jaabari said the municipality declared a state of emergency to coordinate shelter for the displaced. A crisis hotline was established to assist those seeking help. The mayor questioned the timing of the actions, accusing far-right government members of using the city and its Ibrahimi Mosque for election publicity ahead of upcoming contests.
Islamic forces also shut the Ibrahimi Mosque, a Unesco-recognized World Heritage Site, and removed its staff. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs confirmed that no prayers are being held and that the call to prayer has been banned. Palestinians have administered the site for more than 1,400 years, though recent months have seen increased restrictions on Muslim worshippers and facilitated settler incursions.
Source: Middle East Eye
