250 Hebron families face up to 1 year in shelters after checkpoint shooting
The deputy mayor of Hebron says the number of displaced residents is not final as the military operation continues across the city.
By Luana Sato ·
Two hundred fifty families have been forced from their homes in Hebron.
The Israeli military launched the operation after a Friday shooting near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint. Two soldiers died and three were wounded in the attack. The army killed the two suspected Palestinian attackers. The military coordinated with the Shin Bet and the Border Police. They described the action as an effort to thwart terrorism.
The operation targeted several neighborhoods, including al-Jalada, Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh. Residents reported that soldiers ordered them out at gunpoint. Families had little time to gather belongings. Abdul Hamid Shahada, a resident in al-Jalada, said the military stormed the area shortly after the attack. He described soldiers taking positions near the homes of the Joba family. The Joba family includes the relatives of the two alleged perpetrators, Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba. Shahada said he watched from his window as soldiers forced families out. He noted that one man was beaten. His family packed small bags with medicines, phone chargers, and documents. They did not sleep that night.
Soldiers directed families along a route to Al-Salam Street. Some went to relatives' homes. Others went to the Child Happiness Centre. The Hebron Municipality opened this center to shelter displaced residents. Shahada said the soldiers told his family they could return only when further notice is given. Other families were told they would be out of their homes for six months to a year. Shahada said his family worries about their house. He said he saw neighbors' homes left with open doors and ransacked.
Demolitions occurred in Farsh al-Hawa during the same period. Local sources said about seven dunums of land were leveled. This land included residential buildings, commercial shops, and industrial facilities. Israeli forces imposed a broad closure on Hebron. They blocked main entrances and roads to surrounding villages, towns, and refugee camps. Forces raided homes and conducted searches. At least 13 Palestinians were arrested in the city. Dozens were detained for several hours for field interrogations.
Hebron Municipality activated an emergency plan. This includes preparing shelters and establishing an operations center. The center monitors residents' needs. Officials are concerned that the scope of evacuations may expand. Khaled al-Qawasmi, the deputy mayor, said the military began the operation around midnight. He said residents were given one hour to vacate their homes. The evacuation included adults and children. Residents were not permitted to stay in the area. Qawasmi said approximately 250 families have been forced out so far. He noted that this figure is not final. The military siege is ongoing. More families may be evacuated.
Families in the first wave sought refuge in relatives' homes. The municipality opened family guesthouses, the Childhood Happiness Centre, and the Korean Centre. Qawasmi warned that a shelter crisis could occur if the operation expands. He cited the limited capacity of the opened centers. The military operation has not ended. The closure extends to the entrances and gateways of Hebron. Israeli forces remain deployed across various parts of the city.
