Hebron Mayor Declares Emergency After City Sealed

Yousef Jaabari, the mayor of Hebron, declared a state of emergency on Saturday evening after Israeli forces sealed all entrances to the West Bank city. He stated that the occupation has turned Hebron into a disaster zone where no one can enter or leave.

The military action followed a shooting incident early Friday near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint west of the city. Two suspected Palestinians opened fire on Israeli troops, killing two soldiers and wounding three others.

Israeli forces subsequently evicted approximately 2,200 Palestinians from the Deir Bahala, al-Jalda, and nearby neighborhoods. The affected area covers about 330 dunams and contains more than 490 housing units. The displaced residents include elderly people, women, and children. Soldiers reportedly gave families five minutes to leave their homes.

The Palestinian Information Centre reported that at least 40 Palestinians were detained on Saturday evening. Forces also demolished businesses and residential buildings during the crackdown. Social media videos showed Palestinian truck drivers transporting goods and supplies out of factories before demolition crews arrived.

The municipality has established a crisis hotline to assist those displaced. Jaabari said the city is monitoring every detail to meet the needs of residents. He described the measures as collective punishment imposed after the deadly shooting.

Israeli forces also shut the Ibrahimi Mosque and removed its staff and custodians. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs confirmed the closure of the site, which is recognized by Unesco as an endangered World Heritage Site. Jaabari said no prayers are being held and that the call to prayer has been banned.

The mayor questioned the timing of the military operations. He accused far-right members of the Israeli government of using Hebron and the mosque for election publicity for ministers contesting elections in the coming days.