Israel orders mass expulsions from Hebron in occupied territory

Israeli forces have begun removing thousands of Palestinians from Hebron, a city in the occupied West Bank that has long been a flashpoint in Israeli-Palestinian tensions. The expulsions represent one of the largest displacement operations in the city in recent years, affecting multiple neighborhoods and displacing families from their homes.

Hebron has remained a source of conflict since the 1997 Oslo Accords, which divided the city between Israeli and Palestinian control. The city is home to one of Judaism's holiest sites, the Cave of the Patriarchs, as well as a significant Palestinian population. Israeli military presence in the city has intensified over the years, with settlers establishing communities amid the Palestinian neighborhoods.

The scale of the current expulsions has raised alarms among humanitarian organizations and international observers monitoring the situation in the Palestinian territories. Palestinian officials have condemned the action as part of a broader policy they characterize as displacement and settlement expansion.

The expulsions come amid ongoing tensions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with multiple disputes over land ownership, settlement construction, and the status of Palestinian residents remaining unresolved. Israeli authorities have stated their actions are based on security concerns and land claims, while Palestinians view them as collective punishment and violations of international law.