After Friday's attack in Hebron, mass displacement, 1,500 people forced from their homes

Israeli military forces entered the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday, forcing approximately 2,200 Palestinian residents to abandon their homes in response to a deadly attack that occurred the previous day. The displacement operation, which began Friday and continued through the night, targets specific neighborhoods near a military checkpoint where two Israeli soldiers were killed. Local authorities declared a state of emergency, while the Israeli army stated the multi-day campaign aims to locate armed militants and weapons. The crisis escalated following a shooting incident on Friday at a checkpoint near Hebron, where two Palestinian gunmen opened fire. Two Israeli soldiers died in the attack, and three others sustained injuries. The Israeli military confirmed that both perpetrators were shot dead during the engagement. Following the killings, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a large-scale military operation, describing it as the most extensive action in the region since Israel captured the West Bank in 1967. On Saturday, Israeli troops moved into the city, conducting house-to-house searches and enforcing evictions. According to Yousef Zouhair Al-Jabari, the head of Hebron’s municipality, roughly 2,200 Palestinians have been displaced so far. He warned that an additional 1,300 residents face imminent eviction. Earlier estimates from Palestinian officials placed the number of displaced families at 1,500, with the military planning to remove another 2,500 individuals. The operations focus primarily on the Al-Jaladah and Ein Deir Baha neighborhoods, located near the entrance to Hebron and close to the site of the fatal shooting. Resident accounts depict a chaotic scene marked by abrupt orders and limited time to pack belongings. Hijar Sishawar Tamimi told reporters that fifty soldiers arrived at his home demanding immediate evacuation. He left with his children and five other families, leaving them without shelter. Another resident, Majdi Nasser, described receiving similar orders from fifty soldiers. He refused to leave his home, stating he had no connection to the attackers. “We are asking the United Nations for help,” Nasser said. “The Palestinian Authority can do nothing. Please stand with us. We have nothing to do with the attack on the checkpoint. There are children here. We are cut off from the outside. This is pure arbitrariness.” Visual evidence from local media shows streets deserted and buildings marked with black crosses, indicating that inhabitants have been removed. Families were filmed carrying plastic bags of personal items down empty roads. The Israeli military stated that residents in the targeted areas could exit through three designated points. All individuals passing these checkpoints are subject to security screenings and interrogations. Those raising suspicion during these checks are taken for further questioning. The army reported inspecting approximately 200 locations in Hebron related to the attack, finding no weapons, and detaining ten suspects for interrogation. Local Governor Khaled Dudin characterized the scale of the operation as targeting one-third of Hebron. He labeled the measures collective punishment against civilians. Al-Jabari criticized the military response as disproportionate and unjustified, noting that forces demolished shops, factories, homes, and roads within the city. He added that the military closed the city, preventing residents from entering or exiting freely. Additionally, Al-Jabari reported that Israeli forces removed all staff from the Ibrahim Mosque, banned prayers, and sealed the building. Humanitarian conditions in the city have deteriorated significantly due to the blockade and destruction. The political dimension of the conflict became apparent as Al-Jabari linked the intensified military activity to upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for Tuesday. Opinion polls suggest that Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition risks losing its majority in the vote. Al-Jabari alleged that the prime minister and radical ministers in his cabinet are attempting to secure votes from settler communities by escalating violence. “Netanyahu and the radical ministers in his government are trying to win as many votes as possible from the settlers,” Al-Jabari said. In a separate interview with i24 News on Friday evening, Netanyahu hinted at broader actions against the Palestinian Authority. He stated that the partially autonomous body, which manages parts of the West Bank in cooperation with Israel, should prepare for a “big surprise.” Netanyahu’s far-right advisor, Itamar Ben-Gvir, went further, calling for the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority following the attack. Arrests accompanied the physical displacement. The non-governmental organization Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported that Israeli forces detained approximately 70 Palestinians over Friday and Saturday. Israeli officials did not comment on these arrests. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry issued a statement urging the international community to apply pressure on Israel to protect Palestinians. The ministry argued that countering growing threats of expanded forced displacement and destruction requires urgent international action beyond verbal condemnation, aiming for tangible and deterrent measures. The situation remains fluid as the military operation continues. The Israeli army indicated the campaign would last several days, involving thorough investigations of the attackers’ domestic environments. While the military maintains that its actions are precise and limited to the area of origin for the gunmen, local leaders maintain that the scope constitutes widespread repression. Residents continue to live under curfew-like conditions, with access restricted and infrastructure damaged. The interplay between the ongoing security operations and the approaching electoral calendar adds a layer of strategic calculation to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Hebron.