Hebron Mayor: 2,200 Residents Displaced as Israel Seals West Bank Borders

Israeli military operations have forced thousands of Palestinians from their homes in Hebron.

The displacement followed a deadly ambush on an Israeli reserve base that killed two soldiers and two Palestinian gunmen.

Yousef al-Ja'bari, the mayor of Hebron, stated that 2,200 residents have been evicted from their homes. He reported that hundreds of raids have occurred since Friday. Residents described late-night loudspeaker announcements that gave families little time to gather belongings or find shelter. Al-Ja'bari confirmed that the city was sealed on Saturday, preventing entry or exit.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank in response to the attack. Israeli forces conducted operations in at least 15 locations on Saturday. These included Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Birzeit, East Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society reported that approximately 70 Palestinians were arrested during these sweeps. Journalists observed soldiers bulldozing homes and vehicles near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint. During this operation, troops fired a stun grenade at reporters documenting the activity.

The Palestinian Authority, which administers the West Bank, characterized the military actions as collective punishment. Citing home demolitions and the siege of cities, the PA urged the international community to intervene. Hamas issued a statement claiming that escalations by the occupation and settlers would fuel further outrage. Issa Amro, a local activist, described the 800,000 Palestinians in the Hebron governorate as being under siege with all exits closed. He noted that residents fear there is no safe place to hide within the city.

These developments occur days before Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Correspondent Nour Odeh reported that political leaders are attempting to capitalize on the attack. She observed that Netanyahu and his Likud party are trailing in the polls, prompting efforts to project strength against Palestinians. Netanyahu declined to specify plans for the Palestinian Authority but indicated that a significant surprise awaits the organization.