Hebron Lockdown: 2,200 Evicted After Checkpoint Fire
Mayor declares emergency as 2,200 residents are evicted from three neighborhoods.
By Fatima Laurent ·
Hebron is now a sealed zone with no entry or exit points.
Israeli forces closed every entrance to the city on Saturday. Mayor Yousef Jaabari confirmed the blockade in an interview. He stated that 2,200 Palestinians were forced from their homes.
The closures followed a shooting at the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint on Friday. Two suspected Palestinians opened fire on troops there. Two soldiers died in the attack. Three others sustained injuries.
Evictions targeted Deir Bahala, al-Jalda, and nearby areas. These neighborhoods cover 330 dunams and hold 490 housing units. Residents included elderly people, women, and children.
Soldiers gave families five minutes to leave their homes. The Palestinian Information Centre reported that at least 40 people were detained on Saturday. Forces also demolished businesses and residential structures. Videos showed truck drivers moving goods out of factories before demolition began.
Jaabari declared a state of emergency to manage the crisis. The municipality set up a crisis hotline for displaced residents. He described the measures as collective punishment.
Israeli forces also shut the Ibrahimi Mosque on Friday. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said staff and custodians were removed. Jaabari noted that no prayers are being held. Forces banned the call to prayer at the site. The ministry has administered the mosque for more than 1,400 years. In recent months, Israel added restrictions that bar some Muslim worshippers and facilitate settler visits. Jaabari accused far-right ministers of using the crisis for election publicity in the coming days.
Source: Middle East Eye
