250 families displaced in West Bank city after checkpoint attack

Approximately 250 Palestinian families have been forced from their homes in Hebron, a city in the occupied West Bank, following a deadly shooting incident near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint. The displacement began on Saturday morning after two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded on Friday. The Israeli military launched what it described as an operation to thwart terrorism, involving the Shin Bet and Border Police, and stated that the two suspected attackers were killed.

Khaled al-Qawasmi, the deputy mayor of Hebron, confirmed that the figure of 250 families is not final. He explained that the military began its operation around midnight, giving residents one hour to vacate their properties. He noted that the evacuation included both adults and children, and that residents were not permitted to remain in the targeted area. The families were ordered from the neighborhoods of al-Jalada, Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh.

Residents reported being ordered out at gunpoint with little time to gather belongings. Abdul Hamid Shahada, a resident of al-Jalada, said the military stormed the area shortly after the initial attack. He described how soldiers took positions near the homes of the alleged perpetrators, Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba. The military distributed a map designating specific homes and adjacent buildings for evacuation. Shahada said his family packed small bags with medicines and documents, watching as soldiers forced neighbors out and beat one of the men.

The military directed families along a specific route toward Al-Salam Street. From there, some sought shelter with relatives, while others went to facilities opened by the municipality, including the Child Happiness Centre. The soldiers told Shahada and his family that they could return only until further notice. Other families were informed that they might be kept out for six months to a year. Residents expressed concern about the state of their homes, noting that doors and windows were left open and that some houses had been ransacked.

The displacement coincided with demolitions in Farsh al-Hawa, where local sources reported that around seven dunums of land were leveled. Israeli forces imposed a broad closure on Hebron, blocking main entrances and roads. At least 13 Palestinians were arrested, and dozens were detained for field interrogations. The Hebron Municipality announced the activation of an emergency plan to prepare shelters and monitor residents' needs.

Qawasmi warned that the limited capacity of the opened centers could lead to a shelter crisis if the operation expands. The military operation has not ended, and the closure extends to the entrances and gateways of Hebron, with forces continuing to be deployed across various parts of the city.