250 families displaced in Hebron after fatal checkpoint shooting

Residents of four neighborhoods in Hebron, West Bank, received orders on Saturday morning to leave their homes within one hour. The displacement follows a shooting incident near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint on Friday, during which two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded. The two suspected Palestinian attackers were also killed by Israeli forces. Local officials estimate that approximately 250 families have been forced to vacate their residences so far.

The affected areas include al-Jalada, Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh. The al-Jalada neighborhood is home to the families of the two alleged perpetrators, Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba. The Israeli military described the action as an operation to thwart terrorism, conducted in coordination with the Shin Bet and Border Police. Forces conducted searches to locate weapons and interrogate suspects, while designating specific exits for residents to leave the zone.

Abdul Hamid Shahada, a resident in the area, stated that soldiers stormed the neighborhood shortly after the Friday attack. Military vehicles took positions near the Joba family homes, and soldiers distributed maps indicating which buildings required evacuation. Shahada described his family packing small bags with medicines and documents while watching from their windows. He noted that soldiers forced families out along a specific route toward Al-Salam Street. Some families stayed with relatives, while others moved to the Child Happiness Centre opened by the municipality. Soldiers told Shahada his family could return only until further notice, though some other residents were told to expect a six-month to one-year absence.

The displacement coincided with demolitions in Farsh al-Hawa, where local sources reported that around seven dunums of land were levelled. This included residential buildings, commercial shops, and industrial facilities. Israeli forces imposed a broad closure on Hebron, blocking main entrances and roads to the city and surrounding villages. At least 13 Palestinians were arrested in the city, and dozens were detained for field interrogations.

Khaled al-Qawasmi, deputy mayor of Hebron, explained that the operation began around midnight. He stated that the evacuation included both adults and children, and residents were not permitted to remain in the targeted area. The Hebron Municipality activated an emergency plan to prepare shelters and establish an operations center. Facilities such as family guesthouses, the Korean Centre, and other locations are being used to accommodate displaced families.

Qawasmi warned that a shelter crisis could emerge if the operation expands, given the limited capacity of the current facilities. The military operation has not ended, and the closure extends to all entrances and gateways of Hebron. Forces remain deployed across various parts of the city as the search continues.

The military stated that the operation is focused on the area from which the attackers operated. Residents are allowed to leave through designated exits, but return times remain undefined for many families. The municipality continues to monitor resident needs as the number of displaced families may rise.