Mass displacement in Hebron raises alarm over ethnic cleansing and collective punishment

According to Hebron’s Governor Khaled Dudin, more than 500 homes have been searched and over 70 Palestinians have been arbitrarily detained since the assault began. The governor also reported that 128 gates and 120 checkpoints have been established across Hebron governorate, fragmenting the area and severely restricting movement as well as access to healthcare, essential supplies and basic services for Palestinians across Hebron

A staff member at a MAP local partner in Hebron described the sudden displacement: “It happened all of a sudden and was unexpected to see this kind of mass forced displacement. Over 3,000 individuals have been displaced, including persons with disabilities, pregnant women, children. They left their homes carrying whatever they could. A lot of those who were displaced are elderly people with chronic illnesses, meaning there is a need for medicines as well.

“Across the West Bank, we are living in high uncertainty, especially with Israeli elections this week; there is no safe place due to the situation deteriorating day by day. We are wondering if this will last days, weeks, or months. People are worried about forced displacement and it's becoming a real fear, especially when looking at what happened in Jenin and Tulkarem in the past couple of years. We are losing trust in the international community.”

MAP is mobilising emergency medical supplies for hospitals in and around Hebron, prioritising 25,992 bottles of saline, cannulas and other essential items to help meet urgent needs. With MAP supporter, local partners are also preparing to distribute around 900 psychosocial support kits including toys for children, alongside 368 dignity kits including period products for displaced women.

Elsewhere in the South Hebron Hills, 12 villages and hamlets in Masafer Yatta have been isolated by movement restrictions. Road closures and barriers have cut residents off from nearby towns and markets, while people needing regular medical care are struggling to reach hospitals and health centres.

Movement restrictions and checkpoint closures have also prevented MAP-supported mobile clinics from reaching several communities this week, including Beita and Beit Furik near Nablus, where clinics typically see around 80-100 patients per visit, and Jeet near Qalqilya. All mobile clinics will be suspended on Tuesday due to anticipated closures and delays around Israel’s elections.

Israel’s military assault on Hebron follows the killing of two Israeli soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint on Friday 23 October. These new restrictions therefore raise serious concerns about collective punishment, which is prohibited under international humanitarian law. As the occupying power, Israel is obliged to protect Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Aseel Baidoun, Deputy Director of Advocacy and Communications at Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), said: “Palestinians in Hebron are being driven from their homes and cut off from healthcare and basic supplies. This is collective punishment. People are being punished simply for being Palestinians. We have already seen where this leads. In 2025, Israeli military assaults and forced evacuation orders emptied Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps. More than 33,000 Palestinians remained displaced at the start of 2026, their return blocked and hundreds of homes destroyed. Families in Hebron fear the same fate.

“Elsewhere in the West Bank, settler violence and access restrictions displaced more than 2,600 Palestinians between January and September 2026. These are not isolated incidents, but part of a wider campaign to make Palestinian life unbearable and force people from their land. The UK must meet its obligations under international law and act to stop this campaign of ethnic cleansing. It must use its sanctions powers against those responsible. Statements of concern are no substitute for action.”

The UK government must acknowledge the serious risk of further atrocity crimes against Palestinians in the West Bank and meet the UK’s legal duty to prevent them. MAP is calling on the UK Government to use its political, diplomatic and economic influence to protect Palestinian civilians and ensure access to healthcare across the occupied West Bank.

It is urging the government to:

• Use the new sanctions powers now to sanction all those responsible for the forced displacement and ethnic cleansing.
• Urgently implement a loophole-free settlement trade ban.
• Work to end the unlawful occupation in line with the International Court of Justice’s 2024 advisory opinion.
• Impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel in light of serious violations of international law.
• Press Israel to lift movement restrictions that prevent Palestinians from reaching hospitals, accessing essential supplies and returning to their homes.
• Take concrete steps to prevent forced displacement and ensure accountability for violations of international humanitarian law.

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Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) works for a future where every Palestinian has access to a comprehensive, effective and locally-led system of healthcare, and the full realisation of their rights to health and dignity. We have worked for more than 40 years in the occupied Palestinian territory and in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.

MAP’s local team in Gaza continues to deliver our largest humanitarian response in our history in order to meet critical health and humanitarian needs caused by more than three years of Israel’s genocide. Last year, MAP and our local partners delivered nearly two million vital healthcare and humanitarian services to Palestinians in Gaza.