Israeli occupation forces intensified a large-scale military assault on al-Khalil in the southern occupied West Bank on Saturday, imposing a suffocating siege on the city, forcibly displacing Palestinian families, demolishing homes and businesses, and carrying out widespread arrests and raids.

The escalating operation has disrupted daily life across the city, leaving Palestinian residents struggling to reach essential services while facing growing fears of further displacement and the destruction of their homes.

Local estimates indicate that approximately 250 Palestinian families have been forced to evacuate their homes in the Farsh al-Hawa and Abu Kteila neighborhoods. Dozens of additional residents have been displaced from al-Jalda and Ein Deir Bahha, while hundreds of other families face the threat of eviction. The full scale of the displacement remains unclear.

According to local testimonies, Israeli soldiers gave families little time to leave, forcing some to abandon their homes with nothing more than a bag of clothes and their identification documents. Residents were reportedly prevented from taking their vehicles and other personal belongings, leaving many families uncertain about their future.

Hajj Hijazi Shawar al-Tamimi, a local community elder, said Palestinian families had been forced out of their homes at gunpoint and that some residents were beaten during the expulsions. He condemned the operation as collective punishment directed against civilians.

Israeli forces have also demolished residential and commercial properties, including a building containing three apartments in Farsh al-Hawa. Several Palestinian homes have reportedly been seized and turned into military positions, with Israeli flags raised on their rooftops — further deepening residents' fears that they may be permanently prevented from returning to their properties.

Al-Khalil Mayor Yousef al-Jabari said the city had been surrounded by Israeli military vehicles and armored units, with entrances blocked and demolitions taking place in multiple areas.

The siege has brought commercial activity to a near standstill and severely restricted Palestinians' access to basic services. In one particularly alarming incident, an 11-year-old Palestinian girl battling cancer was forced to cross a closed checkpoint on foot to reach a medical appointment at Dura Hospital, highlighting the potentially devastating consequences of the restrictions on vulnerable civilians.

At least 13 Palestinians have been arrested in al-Khalil governorate, while dozens of others have reportedly been detained and questioned as Israeli forces continue their campaign across the area.

The assault followed a shooting attack near al-Khalil on Friday that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded several others. Israeli forces subsequently killed two Palestinians identified as the alleged attackers.

Israeli authorities have indicated that the military operation could continue for several days, intensifying concerns that more Palestinian families will be driven from their homes and that additional residential properties could be demolished or taken over for military use.

Amid the escalating humanitarian crisis, Al-Khalil Municipality has activated an emergency response plan to accommodate displaced families. Local residents have also opened their homes to people forced to flee, offering shelter as families confront the loss of their homes and possessions.

The assault on al-Khalil has coincided with Israeli raids on 26 locations across the occupied West Bank, involving searches, arrests and further restrictions on Palestinian movement.

As the operation continues, displaced families face an uncertain future, with no clear guarantee that they will be allowed to return to their homes. For many, the immediate fear is that the houses they were forced to abandon may be demolished or converted into Israeli military positions before they can return.

The unfolding events have once again placed Palestinian civilians at the center of a military campaign marked by displacement, property destruction and severe restrictions on daily life under Israeli occupation. (ILKHA)