Israeli Military Operation Displaces Thousands in Hebron

The Israel Defense Forces launched a military campaign in Hebron following an October 23 checkpoint attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and two gunmen. Ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the operation involved home raids, the demolition of shops and factories, and the conversion of seized residences into military posts.

Hebron Municipality reports that the campaign displaced 4,969 Palestinians from 780 families, while the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society noted the detention of over 110 people. The military operations disrupted education for 2,872 students and caused daily economic losses between 10 million and 12 million shekels, according to the Hebron Chamber of Commerce.

On October 30, displaced families protested in the al-Jaladah and Deir Bahha neighborhoods, demanding the right to return to their homes. While the Israeli military stated the offensive was necessary to protect residents, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk warned that the forced displacements and threats to erase neighborhoods raise concerns regarding the possibility of ethnic cleansing.