Hebron families displaced as Israeli forces take homes
Palestinian families in Hebron say Israeli forces pushed them from homes after a deadly checkpoint attack, The Guardian and BBC News reported. The army said people who wished to leave could go for a time. The mayor called it group punishment.
Palestinian residents in Hebron's Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa areas say Israeli forces displaced them and took or marked homes after two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint Friday, The Guardian and BBC News reported. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the operation Friday. Defense Minister Israel Katz said about 2,000 residents were displaced.
The Hebron municipality said 370 families, nearly 2,000 people, were displaced in Ein Deir Baha, The Guardian reported. Fahed Ahmaro said he fled with family members and later found his house turned into a military position. Mayor Yousef al-Jabari called the sweep "group punishment."
The Israeli army said in official comments that the displaced population left voluntarily and that "civilians who wished to evacuate were permitted to temporarily leave the area." BBC News said homes and businesses were targeted. West Bank Palestinians do not vote in Tuesday's Israeli election, though residents said the outcome could still reshape their lives.
Bulldozers worked in flattened zones near the checkpoint, The Guardian reported. Some families said they spent a night outside and could not take vehicles when they left.
Hebron has long been a flash point of army posts, settler roads, and closed markets. Families said they grabbed what they could before leaving. Rights groups said the scale of home takeovers after the shooting looks like a broad penalty on civilians.
Bulldozers worked near the checkpoint zone. Families carried bags as they left. Rights groups say the cost fell on civilians.
Election day in Israel is Tuesday, with West Bank residents unable to vote.
What we know: About 2,000 people were displaced in the Hebron operation after the checkpoint killings.
What we don't: How long the takeover will last, and which homes will be demolished.
Where outlets agree The Guardian and BBC News report about 2,000 Hebron residents displaced in an Israeli operation after a checkpoint attack.
Where they differ The Israeli army said civilians left voluntarily for a temporary exit, while Hebron's mayor and residents called the sweep forced group punishment.