Hebron Mayor Declares Emergency as 2,200 Residents Displaced

Mayor Yousef Jaabari declared a state of emergency in the West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday evening after Israeli forces sealed all city entrances and displaced approximately 2,200 residents.

Jaabari told Middle East Eye that the occupation has effectively cut off the city, leaving it in a state of disaster. He characterized the sudden lockdown and evictions as a form of collective punishment imposed in the wake of a violent incident the previous day.

The trigger for the crackdown was a shooting that occurred early Friday morning near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint, located west of the city center. According to accounts of the event, two suspected Palestinians opened fire on Israeli troops at the site. The attack resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and left three others wounded.

The forced evacuations primarily targeted residents in the Deir Bahala and al-Jalda neighborhoods. The affected zone spans roughly 330 dunams and contains more than 490 housing units. Jaabari noted that the displaced population includes many elderly individuals, women, and children. Local residents reported that soldiers granted families only five minutes to vacate their homes.

The Palestinian Information Centre stated that at least 40 Palestinians were detained on Saturday evening. During the operation, forces demolished several businesses and residential structures. Video footage shared on social media showed local truck drivers working in a hurry to transport goods and supplies out of factories before the buildings were destroyed.

In addition to the residential areas, Israeli forces closed the Ibrahimi Mosque, a site recognized by Unesco as an endangered Palestinian World Heritage Site. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs confirmed that staff and custodians were removed from the compound. Jaabari reported that no prayers are currently being held inside and that forces have banned the call to prayer. The mosque, which Palestinians have administered for over 1,400 years, has seen increased restrictions in recent months, including barred entry for Muslim worshippers and facilitated access for settlers.

The municipality has established a crisis hotline to assist those seeking shelter or aid. Jaabari also raised questions about the timing of the military measures, suggesting that far-right members of the Israeli government are using the situation to garner political support ahead of upcoming elections.