2,000 displaced as Hebron enters lockdown after checkpoint attack
Private citizens in the West Bank city are opening their homes to neighbors fleeing a military operation that began on Friday.
By Rebecca Caldwell ·
More than 2,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from Hebron since Israeli forces launched a military assault on Friday. The operation followed an attack on a checkpoint in the Farsh Al-Hawa area that killed two soldiers and injured others. The gunmen were killed during the initial engagement.
City officials report that nearly half of the displaced population consists of babies and children under the age of 18. The group also includes 81 pregnant women and 204 elderly residents. Fahd Ahmaro, a displaced resident, stated that his family left with only the clothes they were wearing. He said his savings, belongings, and documents remain in his home, which he could no longer safely re-enter.
In response to the mass displacement, Palestinian authorities declared a state of emergency and formed a crisis group involving government agencies and civil society. Private citizens have begun offering their homes to displaced families. Riyadh Khamis, a member of the crisis committee, noted that the city has a history of social solidarity, citing aid efforts during the pandemic and previous conflicts.
Real estate developer Mohamed Al-Rujoob initiated the effort by opening apartments he owns in Dura, a town near Hebron. He now hosts three extended families, including 30 children, in his properties. Al-Rujoob said the initiative aims to preserve the dignity of those displaced, noting that all residents under occupation remain vulnerable.
The Israeli army confirmed that Hebron is under lockdown, a measure affecting nearly 1 million Palestinians in the city and surrounding district. Schools have shifted to online classes, and universities are serving their 18,000 students remotely until the operation concludes. The Fawwar refugee camp, home to nearly 8,000 people, has its entrance gate closed, barring residents from entering or leaving on foot.
Abdel Fattah Al-Ttitti, a school teacher in Fawwar, said residents are locked in. He expressed concern about medical emergencies, noting that the nearest clinic in Masafer Yatta is poorly equipped. Many residents in Hebron view the military campaign as having a political dimension, with Israeli general elections scheduled for Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is seeking right-wing votes, while ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Orit Strook, who own homes in settlements in the area, support the displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank.
Source: Al Jazeera
