The Israeli Defense Forces have launched a military operation in the southern West Bank city of Hebron that is expected to last for several days. The offensive coincides with broad campaigns of house evictions and mass arrests across the area. According to statements released by the Israeli military, the operation involves extensive and targeted searches for weapons. These actions are accompanied by investigations into local citizens, with the military citing yesterday’s incident in Hebron, which resulted in the death of two soldiers, as justification for the intensified measures.
The military specified that the operation is concentrated in a defined sector within Hebron. Authorities claimed they would allow residents to leave the operational zone through three designated checkpoints, provided they undergo screening and interrogation procedures. However, on Saturday morning, Israeli forces compelled dozens of citizens to evacuate their homes in the Al-Jalda and Deir Balah neighborhoods. Local sources reported that large units of the army surrounded these areas, effectively sealing them off and forcing residents to abandon their residences immediately.
Concurrently, the Israeli military has conducted widespread arrest raids in Hebron and throughout the occupied West Bank. The governorate of Hebron has been under heavy assault since Friday, during which all entry points leading to the city were closed. This closure extends to entrances of surrounding villages, towns, and refugee camps, severely restricting movement. On Friday, Israeli forces demolished a residential building consisting of three apartments in the Farsh Al-Hawa area, located west of Hebron. Following the demolition, authorities sealed the area and its main entrance, which serves as the sole connection between the city and the bypass road. Citizens and vehicles were barred from entering or exiting the zone.
In response to the escalating crisis, Khalid Doudin, the Governor of Hebron, and Yusuf Al-Ja’abari, the Mayor of Hebron, held meetings to declare a state of emergency in the governorate. The declared plan aims to assist displaced persons from the affected neighborhoods and support citizens stranded at the blocked entrances of towns. The military’s strategy appears designed to isolate specific districts while maintaining control over broader access routes to the city.
