‘A disaster zone’: Hebron is under full Israeli siege, mayor says

What Happened

According to Hebron Mayor Yousef Jaabari, Israeli forces sealed off all entrances to Hebron in the occupied West Bank and forcibly displaced around 2,200 Palestinians from their homes on Saturday evening. He said the closure followed a Friday shooting near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint west of Hebron, where two suspected Palestinians opened fire on Israeli troops, killing two soldiers and wounding three others. Jaabari said evictions affected Deir Bahala, al-Jalda and surrounding neighbourhoods, spanning approximately 330 dunams and more than 490 housing units; residents reported soldiers gave families five minutes to leave. The Palestinian Information Centre reported at least 40 Palestinians were arrested Saturday evening and that businesses and residential buildings were demolished as part of the crackdown.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Hebron is a frequent flashpoint in the occupied West Bank, and the Ibrahimi Mosque is a site holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians, recognised by Unesco as an endangered Palestinian World Heritage Site. The reported mass displacement, demolition and closure of the mosque risk inflaming West Bank tensions already heightened by the Gaza war. The mayor's accusation that far-right Israeli ministers are using the crackdown for electoral purposes underscores the political dimension of operations in the city.

Watch For

Monitor whether Israeli officials confirm or deny the reported evictions, arrests and mosque closure; possible Palestinian protests or armed responses in Hebron and elsewhere in the West Bank; any UN or diplomatic statements on the displacement and heritage site closure; and whether the Ibrahimi Mosque reopens or settler incursions increase in the coming days.