Hebron lockdown displaces Palestinian families after soldiers killed
Usagevpn.com – Israel removes around 250 Palestinian families from homes in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron after two Israeli soldiers were killed at a nearby checkpoint. Local officials said the operation began on Saturday, with troops imposing sweeping restrictions and carrying out searches across parts of the city.
Residents reported that some families were told to leave during the night as Israeli forces expanded activity in neighbourhoods near the attack site. Vehicle access was cut off at military-controlled gates, forcing many Palestinians to continue journeys on foot.
Conflicting estimates of displaced families
The number of people affected remains disputed. Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin said about 150 families had been displaced, while Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari and activist Issa Amro estimated that about 250 families had been forced from their homes.
Israel removes around 250 Palestinian families, according to the higher estimate cited by local officials. Al-Jaabari said the municipality would work to secure temporary shelter and support for those unable to return home.
“We will find them shelter and provide these people with all the help they need,” al-Jaabari said.
In the Ein Dir Baha neighbourhood, buildings were marked with X-shaped signs indicating they had been cleared. Normally busy streets were largely empty, while Israeli military vehicles moved through the area.
Dudin said the operation initially focused on the neighbourhood connected to the people responsible for Friday’s attack, but warned that it could widen. He said roughly one-third of Hebron had been affected by the military activity.
“They started in the neighbourhood from which the people who carried out the attack came, but there is no guarantee that the operation will not expand,” Dudin said.
Israeli military says searches will continue
Israel’s military said it was conducting intensive searches in the area where the two Palestinian gunmen had operated. Both attackers were killed in an exchange of fire. The army said the operation was expected to continue for several days.
Friday’s attack killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded others at a checkpoint near Hebron. The city is one of the West Bank’s most sensitive flashpoints, where a small but strongly ideological settler population lives in guarded enclaves among a much larger Palestinian population.
Israeli restrictions in Hebron have left checkpoints, barriers and gates central to daily life. By Saturday, taxis were waiting outside closed gates as passengers attempted to complete their trips on foot. Basma Radio, which monitors Palestinian road and checkpoint conditions, said all entrances and exits to the city were closed to vehicles.
Israel removes around 250 Palestinian families amid criticism from local leaders, who describe the action as collective punishment. The Israeli military did not respond to questions about the broader scope of the restrictions, while its earlier statement called the searches precise, targeted and comprehensive.
Political tension before Israel’s election
The operation has unfolded days before Israel’s election on Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was preparing an action on a scale not seen since the West Bank came under Israeli occupation in 1967.
Netanyahu faces a close contest against an opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Both leaders oppose the creation of a Palestinian state, although Eisenkot has pledged tougher action against settler violence.
The restrictions also come during the olive harvest, an economically and culturally important period for many Palestinian families. Rights group Yesh Din documented 672 incidents of settler violence over the previous 26 days, with almost half linked to the harvest.
Frequently asked questions
Why were Palestinian families removed from homes in Hebron?
Israeli forces began the operation after two Israeli soldiers were killed at a checkpoint near Hebron. The military said it was searching areas connected to the attackers, while Palestinian officials said the restrictions affected many residents with no direct connection to the attack.
How long will the Hebron operation last?
The Israeli military said the searches were expected to continue for several days. Local officials warned that the affected area could expand beyond the neighbourhood initially targeted.
What support is available for displaced residents?
Hebron’s mayor said the municipality would seek shelter and assistance for families forced to leave their homes. The number of displaced families has not been independently confirmed and varies between local estimates.
