Israeli forces have displaced approximately 1,200 Palestinians in the city of Hebron as the military initiated a large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank on Saturday. The mobilization follows a Palestinian attack on Friday that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint near the city entrance.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the operation on Friday, describing it as an expansive effort to secure the region. According to military officials, the two Palestinian gunmen responsible for the initial attack were shot dead at the scene. The subsequent operation has focused heavily on the Al-Jaladah and Ein Deir Baha neighborhoods, where Israeli forces are conducting searches for additional militants and weapon caches. The military confirmed in a statement that the operation would also include the demolition of various structures.
Local Palestinian officials have condemned the move, characterizing the displacement and destruction as a form of “collective punishment.” Yousef Zouhair Al-Jabari, the head of the Hebron municipality, warned that in addition to those already forced from their homes, another 1,300 residents are currently facing the prospect of losing their property. Al-Jabari alleged that the intensity of the response is tied to domestic Israeli politics, noting that parliamentary elections are scheduled for this coming Tuesday.
With opinion polls suggesting Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition could lose its majority, Al-Jabari argued that the Prime Minister and radical members of his cabinet are attempting to secure votes from the settler movement through these military actions. He reported that the operation has already resulted in the destruction of shops, factories, homes, and critical road infrastructure throughout Hebron, describing the military response as disproportionate to the security threat.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, a non-governmental organization, reported that approximately 70 Palestinians were arrested between Friday and Saturday during the sweep. Israeli officials have not yet issued a formal comment regarding the number of detainees.
Residents in the affected neighborhoods described a chaotic and arbitrary process of eviction. Several people told reporters that they were expelled despite having no connection to the gunmen who carried out the Friday attack. Majdi Nasser, a resident forced out of his home, stated that many families with children have been isolated. According to witness accounts, Israeli soldiers have been seen marking certain homes with a black “X” after the occupants were removed. The specific meaning or intent behind these markings has not been clarified by military authorities.
The operation in Hebron is taking place against a backdrop of wider restrictions across the West Bank. The Israeli military has blocked the entrances to numerous Palestinian towns and cities, a move that has significantly restricted the movement of civilians.
In the town of Yatta, resident Yousef Mur described the humanitarian impact of these closures, stating he was unable to transport his daughter to Jerusalem for her scheduled cancer treatment. Mur reported that when he attempted to pass through a checkpoint, soldiers fired stun grenades toward the group, causing panic. The situation remains volatile as the military operation continues and the region prepares for the upcoming electoral contest.
