Occupation Forces Force Dozens of Palestinians to Evict Their Homes in Hebron

Israeli forces forced dozens of Palestinian citizens to evacuate their homes in the Al-Jalda and Deir al-Baha neighborhoods in the city of Hebron, south of the West Bank. The Palestinian News and Information Agency (Wafa) quoted local sources as saying that “large forces from the occupying army raided the two areas, surrounded them, and forced dozens of citizens to evacuate their homes,” adding that “occupying forces carried out a wide-ranging arrest campaign.” According to the agency, “Hebron Governorate has been witnessing a broad assault since yesterday, as the occupation closed all entrances leading to the city, as well as entrances to villages, towns, and camps.” Hebron Governor Khaled Doudin and Hebron Municipality Mayor Youssef al-Ja’abari announced an emergency plan in the governorate to assist displaced persons from the aforementioned areas and to help citizens stranded at town entrances. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the complete closure of the West Bank and threatened an unprecedented war following an armed operation carried out by two Palestinians at one of the entrances to Hebron, which resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers. Netanyahu and his right-wing allies did not wait long to exploit the armed operation to serve their agendas, just four days before the elections. He vowed to hunt down all Hamas leaders everywhere and at all times, threatened to demolish Palestinian homes in the vicinity of the operation, as well as the neighborhood from which the perpetrators emerged, and called for widespread arrests, destruction of infrastructure, and even the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.