Five minutes to pack: Hebron sealed after 2,200 evicted

Five minutes. That is the window residents of Deir Bahala and al-Jalda had to leave their homes after Israeli forces closed every entrance to Hebron on Saturday. Mayor Yousef Jaabari told Middle East Eye that roughly 2,200 Palestinians were displaced in the sweep, which he described as collective punishment. The affected area covers about 330 dunams and contains more than 490 housing units.

The crackdown began after a shooting at the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint on Friday. Two suspected Palestinians fired on Israeli troops near the site west of Hebron. Two soldiers died and three others were wounded. Following the incident, military forces sealed the city, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. Jaabari stated, “Hebron is now a disaster zone.”

The Palestinian Information Centre reported that forces detained at least 40 people on Saturday evening. Soldiers demolished businesses and residential buildings during the operation. Videos circulating on social media showed Palestinian truck drivers working together to haul supplies out of factories before they were torn down. Residents said soldiers gave families only five minutes to gather their belongings.

The Ibrahimi Mosque has also been shut down. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said forces removed staff and custodians from the site. Jaabari confirmed that no prayers are being held and that the call to prayer has been banned. The mosque has served as a place of worship for more than 1,400 years and is recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The municipality is currently managing the response to the crisis. Jaabari said they declared a state of emergency to meet the needs of displaced residents. The city has established a crisis hotline for those seeking assistance. Officials are monitoring the situation to provide shelter for those who lost homes.

Jaabari questioned the timing of the measures, noting that Israeli elections are approaching. He accused far-right government members of using the city and the mosque for political gain. He said certain ministers were using the residents and their homes as free election publicity in the coming days.

The city remains sealed as of Saturday evening. No one can enter or leave Hebron. The municipality continues to coordinate with residents to address the immediate needs of those displaced from the 330 dunam area.