Hebron Mayor: Evictions Are Collective Punishment
Israeli forces sealed the West Bank city on Saturday following a deadly checkpoint shooting that killed two soldiers.
By Marta Price ·
Yousef Jaabari, the mayor of Hebron, declared a state of emergency on Saturday evening after Israeli forces closed all city entrances and displaced approximately 2,200 residents. He described the city as a disaster zone where no one can enter or leave.
The military crackdown followed a shooting incident early Friday near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint west of Hebron. Two suspected Palestinians opened fire on Israeli troops at the site, killing two soldiers and wounding three others. Jaabari characterized the subsequent isolation and evictions as collective punishment.
The displacement affected residents in Deir Bahala, al-Jalda, and adjacent neighborhoods. The impacted area spans roughly 330 dunams and contains more than 490 housing units. Residents reported that soldiers granted families only five minutes to pack and depart their homes.
The Palestinian Information Centre stated that Israeli forces detained at least 40 Palestinians on Saturday evening. During the operation, troops demolished businesses and residential structures. Social media videos captured Palestinian truck drivers cooperating to remove goods from factories before demolition crews arrived.
The municipality has established a crisis hotline to assist those seeking shelter. Jaabari stated that the local government is monitoring every detail to meet the needs of the displaced population. The measures also extend to the Ibrahimi Mosque, a World Heritage Site that the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said was shut down after Friday's shooting.
Israeli forces removed staff and custodians from the mosque and banned the call to prayer. The site, administered by Palestinians for over 1,400 years, is sacred to Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Recent months have seen Israel expand its control over the location, including barring Muslim worshippers and facilitating settler visits. Jaabari suggested the timing coincided with upcoming elections, accusing far-right ministers of using the city for political gain.
Source: Middle East Eye
