Hebron Sealed: Mayor Declares Emergency After Fatal Checkpoint Attack

Israeli forces closed every entrance to the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, forcing approximately 2,200 Palestinian residents from their homes. Mayor Yousef Jaabari described the city as a disaster zone in an interview on Saturday evening, stating that the occupation has blocked all routes in and out.

The military action followed a shooting incident early on Friday near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint west of the city center. Two suspected Palestinians opened fire on Israeli troops, killing two soldiers and wounding three others. Jaabari characterized the subsequent sealing of the city and mass evictions as a form of collective punishment.

The displaced residents live in the Deir Bahala and al-Jalda neighborhoods, an area spanning roughly 330 dunams and containing over 490 housing units. The population includes elderly individuals, women, and children. Residents reported that soldiers gave families only five minutes to vacate their properties. The Palestinian Information Centre stated that forces also detained at least 40 Palestinians on Saturday evening and demolished both commercial and residential structures.

Video footage shared on social media captured Palestinian truck drivers rushing to transport goods from factories before demolition crews arrived. The Hebron municipality has established a crisis hotline and is coordinating shelter for the displaced families. Jaabari confirmed the declaration of a state of emergency to manage the immediate logistical needs of the city's population.

The crackdown extends to the Ibrahimi Mosque, a site recognized by Unesco as an endangered World Heritage Site. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs reported that Israeli forces removed the mosque's staff and custodians after Friday's shooting. The mayor stated that prayers have ceased and that the call to prayer is currently banned. The site has been administered by Palestinians for more than 1,400 years, though recent months have seen increased Israeli restrictions and settler access.

Jaabari questioned the timing of the military measures, alleging that far-right members of the Israeli government are using the situation for political gain. He suggested that certain ministers are leveraging the crisis in Hebron and its religious sites for free publicity ahead of upcoming elections.