Israeli Forces Evacuate 400 Families in Hebron, Demolish Homes

Israeli military operations in Hebron, ongoing for 48 hours following an incident on Friday morning, have led to the evacuation of approximately 400 families, totaling around 3,000 people, from their homes. According to Khaled Al-Qawasmi, Deputy Mayor of Hebron, Israeli forces sealed off access to the targeted area, imposed a blockade, and began demolishing commercial and industrial structures, also causing damage to some residences. While demolition work paused on Saturday, military movements and resident evacuations continued. Al-Qawasmi stated that residents were forced to leave their homes within an hour, with families including the elderly, women, children, and youth compelled to walk towards Israeli checkpoints, where they were interrogated before being removed from the area. They were not permitted to return to their homes as of the time of the interview, and the municipality lacks clear information on the operation's duration or potential expansion.

The municipality has opened a shelter, but most displaced families are staying with relatives due to strong social ties. Al-Qawasmi described the current measures as unprecedented since 1967, encompassing large parts of Hebron and its governorate, and expressed concern that this could become a general Israeli policy. He warned of severe humanitarian and economic consequences due to the ongoing blockade, evacuations, and demolitions, especially with the unclear timeline of the military operation. The Deputy Mayor also noted that the administrative and security divisions previously in place, such as the H1 and H2 areas defined by the 1997 Hebron Protocol, no longer reflect the reality on the ground, with Israeli forces now exercising full control over the city and its vital areas.