Israeli forces turn Hebron residential buildings into military outposts, displacing families
Palestinian families were forced out of homes in Hebron as Israeli troops converted residential buildings into military outposts, amid heightened security measures ahead of a religious celebration.
Israeli forces displaced Palestinian families from homes in Hebron, West Bank, on Thursday, converting a six-story residential building in the Abu Sneineh neighborhood into a military outpost, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency. The building, which housed roughly 50 residents, was cleared of occupants, including women, children, patients and the elderly.
In a separate raid in the Jaber neighborhood, troops evicted Majed Jaber and his ten-member family and repurposed the property as a military barracks.
The actions come days before thousands of Israeli settlers are expected to travel to Hebron for the Jewish religious celebration of Chayei Sarah, which commemorates the death of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Israeli forces have maintained a presence in Hebron since an attack on Oct. 23 that killed two soldiers. During the subsequent 11-day military siege, more than 4,000 residents were displaced; many who returned later found their homes damaged or demolished.