IDF Evicts Hundreds of Palestinians from Homes in Hebron

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have evacuated 2,231 Palestinians from their homes in Hebron since the weekend, according to Khaled Fahd Al-Qawasmi, the city's deputy mayor. He stated on Sunday that 373 families have been displaced so far, with approximately 30 more families facing imminent eviction. The military operation was launched in Hebron following a shooting incident nearby that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers. The Association for Civil Rights has called for an immediate halt to the evictions and home demolitions, as well as the cancellation of the imposed closure, labeling the actions as collective punishment that violates international law. Attorney Reut Sha'ar from the association emphasized that no security event justifies punishing an entire city, calling the displacement and destruction of property to exact a price for the actions of a few forbidden collective punishment. The association also noted that political leadership explicitly presented the demolition actions as a punitive measure. During the military operation, families were permitted to take only essential belongings. Some displaced families have sought refuge in a municipal reception center, while others are staying with relatives, as forces began demolishing structures in the area. The mayor, Yosef Al-Jaabari, specified that the evacuations and demolitions primarily targeted the densely populated areas of Al-Jaladah and Dir Baha. The IDF announced the operation after two Hebron residents fatally shot Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Reitman and Sergeant Yuval Shay Suilam. The military expects the operation to last several days, involving searches for individuals involved in terrorism and weapons, with residents requiring authorization to enter or exit the operational zone through designated checkpoints. The IDF has also blocked entrances and exits to Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank, and surrounding villages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated after the shooting that a broad operation was anticipated, warning that the IDF would search and evacuate residents from the shooters' neighborhood and destroy terror infrastructure. He claimed the IDF had prepared a plan for a large-scale operation in the West Bank, unprecedented since the Six-Day War, and that its timing would be determined by the military. Earlier, the Civil Administration announced the demolition of dozens of structures near the shooting site. Local residents reported the destruction of three buildings against which demolition orders had already been issued prior to the attack. Business owners in the area petitioned the High Court of Justice, which issued an interim order to freeze the demolition of businesses near the shooting location.