Hebron Evictions: 250 Families Given One Hour to Leave After Checkpoint Shooting
Following the deaths of two soldiers near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint, Israeli forces ordered residents in four neighborhoods to vacate their homes, leaving many without a set return date.
By Amina Kaminski ·
Israeli military forces ordered approximately 250 Palestinian families to leave their homes in Hebron within one hour on Saturday morning, following a shooting incident near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint that killed two soldiers and wounded three others. The operation, launched in coordination with the Shin Bet and Border Police, was described by the army as a measure to thwart terrorism and dismantle infrastructure linked to the two suspected attackers, who were also killed during the incident.
Residents in the neighborhoods of al-Jalada, Ein Deir Bahha, Wadi al-Maghariba, and Shi'b al-Milh reported being compelled to vacate their homes at gunpoint. Many were given little time to gather belongings and received no clear timeline for their return. Abdul Hamid Shahada, a resident of al-Jalada, described the incursion beginning shortly after the initial attack on Friday morning. Soldiers took positions near the homes of the alleged perpetrators, Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba, and distributed maps designating specific buildings for evacuation.
Shahada stated that his family watched from their windows as soldiers forced neighbors out, noting that one man was beaten during the process. The family packed only essentials, including medicines, phone chargers, and documents, and did not sleep through the night. Soldiers directed displaced families along a route toward Al-Salam Street. Some residents stayed with relatives, while others sought refuge at the Child Happiness Centre, a facility opened by the municipality to accommodate the displaced.
Military personnel told Shahada’s family that they could return 'until further notice,' though other residents were informed they would be kept out for six months to a year. Shahada expressed concern for the condition of his home after seeing neighbors’ houses with doors and windows left open and interior items ransacked. The deputy mayor of Hebron, Khaled al-Qawasmi, confirmed that the operation began around midnight and that the evacuation included both adults and children.
Al-Qawasmi stated that the 250 families displaced in the first wave are not the final count, as the military siege continues and further evacuations are possible. The Hebron Municipality activated an emergency plan that includes preparing shelters in family guesthouses, the Childhood Happiness Centre, and the Korean Centre. Al-Qawasmi warned that limited capacity in these facilities could lead to a crisis if the operation expands. The municipality also established an operations centre to monitor the needs of residents.
The displacement occurred alongside demolitions in Farsh al-Hawa, where local sources reported that approximately seven dunums of land containing residential and commercial buildings were leveled. Israeli forces imposed a broad closure on Hebron and surrounding areas, blocking main entrances and roads. At least 13 Palestinians were arrested in the city, and dozens were detained for field interrogations. The military stated it was conducting searches for weapons and interrogating suspects in the area from which the attackers operated.
The operation remains ongoing, with forces deployed across various parts of the city. Residents have not been permitted to return to the targeted zones, and the municipality continues to coordinate shelter arrangements for those who remain displaced. The army maintains that residents can leave through designated exits, while local officials monitor the potential for the evacuation scope to increase.
