HEBRON: Israeli forces on Tuesday helped move mobile housing units into Tel Rumeida, a neighborhood in Hebron. The land is officially under Palestinian control, as outlined in the Oslo Accords.
Eyewitnesses and activists said the units arrived on trucks escorted by Israeli military vehicles. The area, known as “H1,” is under full civil and security control of the Palestinian Authority. This is the first time Israeli forces have placed housing infrastructure in this section of Hebron.
Issa Amro, coordinator of the Youth Against Settlements group, called the move unprecedented. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said, “It’s the first time the Israeli army has placed mobile homes inside H1 territory.”
He added that the move violates past agreements and marks a dangerous escalation. Amro warned it could lead to unrest in an already volatile region.
Israeli Military Conducts Raids After Surif ‘Incident’
In a separate development, Israeli forces carried out raids in the West Bank town of Surif, northwest of Hebron. The military claimed Palestinians from the town threw rocks and set vehicles on fire near the illegal settlement of Bat Ayin.
In response, Israeli troops launched a “counterterrorism operation,” according to a statement posted on Telegram. They arrested two individuals and searched dozens of homes and buildings.
The statement added that the Israel Police had opened an inquiry. Military efforts to find more suspects and secure the area are ongoing.
Palestinian officials criticized the military’s use of the term “terrorists.” Rights groups say such labels are often used to justify aggressive raids and collective punishment.
Fears of Settlement Expansion and Rising Tension
Tensions remain high across the West Bank. In 2025 alone, Israeli raids, settlement expansions, and clashes have sharply increased.
Palestinians fear the new mobile housing units may be the beginning of fresh settlement activity in H1 areas. Critics say this could be a step toward permanent land seizures.
They also argue such actions violate international law and weaken hopes for a two-state solution.
Human rights groups have long warned against unilateral Israeli moves in occupied territories. They say these actions worsen the humanitarian crisis and provoke more violence.
Growing Concern Over a Shifting Reality
People in Hebron and nearby towns are deeply worried. Many see these incidents as part of a larger pattern, not isolated events.
The placement of mobile homes in Palestinian-controlled zones, along with intensified military activity, signals a shift in ground realities.
Local communities now fear more displacement, more conflict, and less space for peaceful resolution.
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