Hebron Deputy Mayor: 250 Families Left Homes in One-Hour Military Order

Israeli forces ordered about 250 families to leave their homes in Hebron after a shooting near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint, according to Khaled al-Qawasmi, the city's deputy mayor. The operation began around midnight and gave residents one hour to vacate, Qawasmi said. Adults and children were among those moved out, and residents were not permitted to remain in the area.

The military said the operation was launched in coordination with the Shin Bet and Border Police as an 'operation to thwart terrorism'. The army said it was searching for what it described as 'terrorist infrastructure' and weapons, while interrogating dozens of suspects. Two soldiers were killed and three others wounded in Friday's shooting near the checkpoint west of Hebron. Israeli forces also killed the two suspected Palestinian attackers, Ahmad and Hamouda al-Joba, the military said.

Residents described being moved from their homes at gunpoint with little time to collect belongings. Abdul Hamid Shahada, a resident of the al-Jalada neighborhood, said the military stormed the area shortly after Friday's attack. Soldiers took positions near the Joba family homes and distributed a map designating buildings for evacuation, he said. Shahada and his family stayed in their building and packed medicines, phone chargers and documents. 'We watched them forcing families out of their homes; they even beat one of the men,' he said. The military gave no return date, telling some families 'until further notice' and others six months to a year.

Families were directed along a route toward Al-Salam Street. Some stayed with relatives, while others went to the Child Happiness Centre, which the municipality opened for displaced residents. Hebron Municipality has activated an emergency plan that includes preparing shelters and setting up an operations centre to monitor residents' needs. The municipality has also opened family guesthouses, the Childhood Happiness Centre, the Korean Centre and other facilities.

The operation has coincided with demolitions of residential buildings, commercial shops and industrial facilities in Farsh al-Hawa. Local sources reported that around seven dunums of land were levelled. Israeli forces imposed closures on Hebron and surrounding villages, towns and refugee camps, blocking main entrances and roads, while raiding homes and conducting searches. Local sources reported at least 13 Palestinians arrested in the city, with dozens detained for hours and questioned in the field.

Qawasmi said the figure of 250 families is not final because the siege continues and more evacuations could follow. He warned that if the operation expands, shelter capacity at the centres already opened would not be enough for additional people. The military operation has not ended, and closures extend to the entrances and gateways of Hebron, with Israeli forces deployed across various parts of the city, he said.