Israel expands expulsions in occupied West Bank to cement control | Israel-Palestine conflict News
More than 3,000 Palestinians Displaced in Hebron Amid Israeli Military Operations
HEBRON, West Bank — More than 3,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron as the Israeli military intensifies a large-scale operation labeled by human rights advocates as an effort to displace the Palestinian population permanently.
According to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, Israeli authorities have imposed a lockdown in Hebron and detained at least 71 individuals over the past four days. Hebron’s Governor Khaled Dudin reported on Monday that a total of 488 families, amounting to 3,171 people, were uprooted across the larger governorate. Mayor Yousef al-Jabari confirmed that 3,043 of those affected are residents of Hebron city itself.
The Israeli military has also been conducting a demolition campaign, damaging residential buildings, factories, and roads while blocking access, raiding homes, and assaulting Palestinian civilians. These operations intensified following a shooting that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers near Hebron on Friday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the ongoing military actions as a comprehensive operation reminiscent of tactics not seen since the 1967 war.
The situation has escalated amid rising tensions in the West Bank. Reports indicate increased violence from Israeli settlers and soldiers against Palestinian civilians, particularly during the olive harvest season. The backdrop of this violence occurs just days before Israel’s scheduled general election on Tuesday, where Netanyahu is seeking re-election.
Forced Displacement
Authorities in Hebron noted that many of the displaced individuals are women, children, and elderly residents. Israeli forces have reportedly converted several homes into military barracks and field interrogation centers.
Noman Amr, a professor of contemporary history at al-Quds Open University in Hebron, described the operations as surpassing temporary evacuations, categorizing them as actions of military use, collective punishment, and revenge. He emphasized the psychological effects, stating that Israeli soldiers’ comments have instilled fear among residents, with some claiming they were told, “You will return to your homes on Judgment Day.”
Amr contended that the overarching goal appears to be the reconfiguration of the region, reflecting a mentality of “more land, fewer Arabs.”
Connection to Previous Operations
Israeli officials have explicitly linked the military actions in Hebron to past operations in the West Bank. Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated plans to apply the “Jenin camp model” in Hebron, which encompasses the forced evacuation of residents, home inspections, weapons confiscation, and road bulldozing.
Human rights organizations have drawn parallels between the current actions in Hebron and the “Iron Wall” operation in early 2025, which resulted in significant casualties, displacement, and destruction in the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem refugee camps. A UN report stated that such military tactics may constitute collective punishment and raised concerns regarding ethnic cleansing, noting reports from displaced Palestinians of Israeli officers suggesting that there will be no more refugee camps.
During the Jenin operation, Israeli forces reportedly killed at least 21 children, including a 10-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl.
Destruction of Infrastructure
Analysts have highlighted that the destruction of vital infrastructure during the Hebron operation aims to entrench the displacement of Palestinian communities. Amr stated that targeting essential resources, such as water wells, is not merely a matter of material damage but strikes at the very existence and stability of Palestinian life.
Furthermore, there appears to be a coordinated effort between the Israeli military and armed settler groups. Amr noted a significant increase in armed settlers—estimated at over 150,000—who engage in violence against Palestinian residents while receiving support from Israeli forces.
Recent reports from the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission disclosed that the Israeli military has erected 220 barriers throughout Hebron, effectively severing Palestinian communities from their lands while facilitating settler movement.
On Sunday, the Israeli army announced a restriction on Palestinian workers entering most areas of the West Bank through Monday, with a full closure of crossings expected on Tuesday, coinciding with the parliamentary elections.
Mayor al-Jabari accused Netanyahu’s government of leveraging the military operation for electoral gain among settler constituents. Amr echoed this sentiment, asserting that the Palestinian community bears the consequences of decisions made for political advantage, indicating a desire among some Israeli factions to reshape historical narratives surrounding Palestinian presence in the region.
