Hebron Mayor: 2,200 Residents Evicted After West Bank Lockdown
Israeli forces sealed off the West Bank following a fatal attack on a reserve base, triggering mass displacement and arrests across the territory.
By Larissa Bell ·
2,200 people have been forced from their homes in Hebron since Friday, according to the city’s mayor.
Yousef al-Ja’bari stated that hundreds of Israeli military raids have taken place since two Palestinian gunmen attacked an Israeli army reserve base. Both attackers and two Israeli soldiers were killed in the exchange. Al-Ja’bari reported that residents received evacuation orders via loudspeakers late at night, leaving families with little time to prepare. On Saturday, the city was completely sealed, preventing people from entering or exiting.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank following the incident. The military conducted operations in at least 15 areas, including Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Birzeit, East Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. Al Jazeera journalists were targeted with a stun grenade while documenting the bulldozing of homes and vehicles near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint in Hebron. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society reported that approximately 70 Palestinians were arrested during the raids.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, labeled the military actions as collective punishment. It cited home demolitions, the displacement of entire neighborhoods, and the siege of Palestinian cities. The authority urged the international community to apply pressure on Israel. Hamas also issued a statement, saying that the occupation’s escalations and the actions of settlers would fuel further outrage among Palestinians.
Hebron is the most populous governorate in the West Bank, home to approximately 200,000 people within the city limits and 600,000 in the surrounding area. Issa Amro, a local activist, noted that these 800,000 residents are under siege with all entrances and exits closed. He described the city as being in fear, with no safe hiding spots for residents inside the urban center.
The military sweeps are occurring just days before Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Al Jazeera’s West Bank correspondent Nour Odeh said Israeli politicians are attempting to capitalize on the attack. She observed that Netanyahu, his Likud party, and their right-wing coalition allies are trailing in the polls. Odeh argued that the leadership is projecting strength by emphasizing combat against Palestinians. Netanyahu avoided specifying whether he intends to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, but he told reporters that a big surprise awaits the organization.
The lockdown has created a stark contrast between the pre-election political calculations and the immediate humanitarian reality in Hebron. Residents remain trapped in their homes or have relocated to temporary shelters as military operations continue. The international community is monitoring the situation closely, with the Palestinian Authority waiting for a formal response to its appeal for protection.
