Hebron Evictions: 250 Families Given One Hour to Leave
Hebron residents report that soldiers forced them out of four neighborhoods after a checkpoint shooting, with many told they could not return until further notice.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Residents of Hebron woke up on Saturday morning to find soldiers at their doors. The military ordered roughly 250 families to vacate their homes in the al-Jalada, Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh neighborhoods. According to the deputy mayor, Khaled al-Qawasmi, troops gave residents one hour to leave their homes. Many families had time to pack only medicines, phone chargers, and important documents before being directed to exit.
This displacement follows a shooting on Friday near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint west of Hebron. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded in the attack. Israeli forces killed the two suspected Palestinian attackers, Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba. The military launched an operation it described as a measure to thwart terrorism, coordinating with the Shin Bet and Border Police. Soldiers conducted searches for weapons and infrastructure while interrogating dozens of suspects.
Abdul Hamid Shahada, a resident of al-Jalada, described the scene from his window. He watched soldiers storm the area shortly after the Friday morning attack. Large numbers of troops and military vehicles positioned themselves near the homes of the Joba family. The military distributed maps that designated specific buildings for evacuation. Shahada said his family packed small bags with essentials and waited anxiously without sleeping all night. He noted that soldiers forced families out at gunpoint and beat one of the men.
Soldiers directed evacuated families along a route toward Al-Salam Street. Some residents stayed with relatives, while others moved to the Child Happiness Centre opened by the municipality. The military told Shahada and his family that they could return only until further notice. Other residents reported that soldiers told them they would be kept out of their homes for six months to a year. Shahada said his family worries about the fate of their home after seeing neighboring houses ransacked with doors and windows left wide open.
The eviction coincided with demolitions in Farsh al-Hawa. Local sources reported that forces leveled around seven dunums of land, targeting 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, and conducted arrests. At least 13 Palestinians were arrested in the city, and dozens were detained for field interrogations.
The Hebron Municipality activated an emergency plan to address the situation. This includes preparing shelters for displaced families and establishing an operations centre to monitor needs. The municipality opened family guesthouses, the Childhood Happiness Centre, and the Korean Centre to accommodate residents. Qawasmi said the evacuation included adults and children, and residents were not permitted to remain in the targeted area. He noted that the 250 family count is not final because the military siege is ongoing.
Qawasmi warned that a shelter crisis could develop if the operation expands. The capacity of the opened centers is limited, and more families may be forced to leave. The military operation has not ended, and the closure extends beyond the targeted neighborhoods to the entrances and gateways of Hebron. Israeli forces remain deployed across various parts of the city as the municipality continues to monitor the number of families requiring shelter.
The military stated that the operation focused on the area where the alleged attackers operated. It said residents could leave through designated exits. The Shin Bet and Border Police assisted the army in the West Bank. The two attackers were killed by Israeli fire after the checkpoint shooting. The military continued to search for terrorist infrastructure and weapons in the area while interrogating suspects.
Local sources confirmed that the displacement affected multiple neighborhoods. The families of the two alleged perpetrators, the al-Joba family, live in al-Jalada. Residents in Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh were also forced to leave. The municipality opened the Child Happiness Centre to accommodate those who could not stay with relatives. The number of arrested Palestinians stood at at least 13, with dozens more detained for several hours.
The closure blocked main roads and entrances to Hebron and its surrounding villages, towns, and refugee camps. Forces raided homes and conducted searches across the city. The military operation is still active, and the deputy mayor stated that residents are not allowed to return yet. The 250 figure reflects families displaced in the first wave, but Qawasmi said the number could rise. The municipality continues to manage the emergency shelter plan and monitor the situation as the military siege persists.
