Hebron sealed by Israeli forces as more than 2,200 Palestinians are displaced; mayor calls city a disaster zone after shooting kills two soldiers

Israeli forces have sealed off Hebron, imposing total movement restrictions as more than 2,200 Palestinian residents were forced from their homes across several neighborhoods. Mayor Yousef Jaabari described the city as a disaster zone; the measures followed an early-morning shooting at a checkpoint near Farsh al-Hawa that left two Israeli soldiers dead.

The reported evictions affected Deir al-Balah, Al-Jalda and neighboring quarters. Those displaced included families with elderly relatives and young children. Municipal estimates put the area directly targeted by the operation at 330 dunams, containing more than 490 residential units.

Witnesses told Middle East Eye that soldiers gave some families as little as five minutes to leave their homes. Local factory owners and drivers scrambled to remove industrial equipment and goods ahead of pending demolitions by Israeli machinery.

City officials denounced the lockdown and what they called ongoing collective punishment. They established emergency shelters and a crisis hotline to assist displaced families.