Ethnic cleansing of Jabal Jales area of Al-Khalil/Hebron

On February 18, 2026, Israeli forces launched a major raid in Hebron’s Jabal Jales neighborhood, detaining dozens of Palestinians and converting a residential building into a military outpost, detaining dozens of Palestinians, searching homes, and seizing a residential building to use as a military outpost.

Soldiers physically assaulted residents, including women, and prevented them from breaking their fast at sunset-a key ritual during Ramadan when Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk. The Israel Defense Forces said the operation followed reports of gunfire, while Palestinian sources alleged assaults on residents and disruptions to the sunset iftar meal.

Reports from WAFA, Middle East Eye, and IMEMC indicated 20–37 detentions, including women, with some detainees reportedly beaten or denied food.

Le Day after the mass abduction of local Palestinians, on February 19, Israeli settlers families —under military protection— invaded five additional houses in Jabal Jalles. This is the largest wave of invasions in Hebron since the 1980s. Full cooperation between Israel's terrorist settlers and terrorist army.

Tensions spread to nearby Beit Ula, where a Palestinian was shot and injured.

The raid reflects escalating violence in Hebron, a long-standing flashpoint divided under the Hebron Protocol and located near settlements such as Kiryat Arba. Human rights observers warn that operations during Ramadan and interference with religious practices risk further inflaming tensions amid a broader surge in West Bank violence since 2023.