Israeli army forces Palestinian families to evacuate homes in Hebron

Israeli forces forced dozens of Palestinian families to evacuate their homes in Hebron in the southern West Bank on Saturday, hours after announcing the launch of a military operation in the area, reported Xinhua.

Palestinian security and local sources told Xinhua that large numbers of Israeli troops stormed the Al-Jalda and Deir Baha areas, surrounded them, and ordered residents to leave their homes.

They said the troops used loudspeakers to issue evacuation orders and designated three exit points. Residents were subjected to searches and security interrogations before being allowed to leave.

Eyewitnesses said the displaced families, including women, children and elderly people, left their homes during the night, carrying bags containing clothes and official documents.

Meanwhile, government and non-governmental institutions in Hebron launched an emergency response plan to assist displaced families and help residents stranded at the entrances to towns in the area.

In a statement, the municipality said the plan included increasing the readiness of water, electricity, sanitation and maintenance crews, as well as activating a central operation office around the clock to receive reports from residents and monitor service disruptions and emergencies.

The municipality also decided to prepare and open shelters for displaced families and provide them with basic necessities. Coordination with health and humanitarian organizations will be strengthened to ensure the delivery of essential supplies and facilitate emergency services to areas under closure, according to the statement.

On Friday night, Israeli forces launched a military operation in the West Bank city of Hebron, hours after Israeli leaders vowed to displace residents and carry out demolitions following a shooting attack near the city that killed two Israeli soldiers.

In a joint statement, the Israeli military and Shin Bet domestic security agency said the operation is expected to continue for "several days" and is targeting an area of Hebron from which the two Palestinian gunmen who carried out the attack had come.

The statement said the operation was aimed at locating and dismantling "terrorist infrastructure," seizing weapons and questioning suspects.