Israel Seals West Bank, Stranding 800,000 Residents in Hebron
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown following a fatal ambush that killed two soldiers, prompting the Palestinian Authority to call for international intervention.
By Lina Lewis ·
Residents of the West Bank face a full military closure following a deadly ambush on an Israeli reserve base in Hebron. The lockdown, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has severed the region’s main transportation routes and halted daily life for hundreds of thousands of people.
The conflict escalated on Friday when two Palestinian gunmen attacked the reserve base. Both attackers and two Israeli soldiers died in the engagement. In response, Israeli forces launched a coordinated sweep across the territory. By Saturday, the military had sealed the entrances and exits of Hebron, the most populous governorate in the West Bank. Yousef al-Ja'bari, the mayor of Hebron, stated that 2,200 people have been forced from their homes as a result of the operations.
Soldiers announced evacuation orders via loudspeakers late in the evening, leaving families with little time to gather belongings. Al-Ja'bari reported that on Saturday, residents were unable to enter or leave the city. Issa Amro, a local political analyst, described the situation for the 800,000 people living in the governorate as a siege, noting that there is currently no safe place to hide within the city limits.
Israeli forces conducted raids in at least 15 areas on Saturday, including Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, and East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society reported that approximately 70 Palestinians were arrested during these operations. In Hebron, soldiers also bulldozed homes and vehicles near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint. During that operation, soldiers fired a stun grenade at journalists documenting the demolition.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, labeled the military response as collective punishment. The authority cited home demolitions and the forced displacement of entire neighborhoods in its appeal to the international community. Hamas also issued a statement, characterizing the actions as an escalation by the occupation and its settlers that would fuel further outrage among the population.
The military buildup occurs days before parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Analysts suggest political leaders are using the crisis to shift public opinion ahead of the vote. Netanyahu, who is trailing in the polls, has not confirmed whether his government intends to dismantle the Palestinian Authority. He indicated that a significant change is coming for the organization, though he avoided specific details during a recent address.
