Israeli Forces Seal Hebron After Fatal Ambush
Mayor reports 2,200 residents displaced as Prime Minister Netanyahu orders a full West Bank lockdown ahead of October 27 elections.
By Kevin Iyer ·
2,200 residents have been forced from their homes in Hebron following a military lockdown that began after two Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush. Yousef al-Ja'bari, the mayor of Hebron, provided that figure in an interview with Al Jazeera. He stated that hundreds of raids have occurred since Friday, when two Palestinian gunmen attacked an army reserve base. Both attackers and the two soldiers died in the incident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank in response to the attack. Residents reported that soldiers used loudspeakers to announce evacuation orders late at night. Al-Ja'bari said that on Saturday, people were unable to enter or leave the city. He noted that families had little time to prepare and few options for shelter.
Israeli forces conducted operations in at least 15 areas across the West Bank on Saturday. These locations included Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Birzeit, East Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society reported that approximately 70 Palestinians were arrested during these raids. Correspondents also documented an operation near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint in Hebron, where soldiers fired a stun grenade at journalists filming the bulldozing of homes and vehicles.
The Palestinian Authority described the military actions as collective punishment. Citing home demolitions and the closure of cities, the PA urged the international community to intervene. Hamas released a statement saying that the escalation by the occupation and settlers would fuel further outrage among the population.
Hebron is the most populous governorate in the West Bank, home to about 200,000 people within the city limits and 600,000 in the surrounding area. Issa Amro, a political analyst based in Hebron, said all entrances and exits to the governorate have been closed since morning. He described the situation inside the city as one of fear, noting there is no safe place to hide.
The military operations are taking place days before Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Nour Odeh, a correspondent for Al Jazeera, said politicians are attempting to capitalize on the attack. She observed that Netanyahu and his Likud party are trailing in the polls and are projecting strength against Palestinian opponents. Netanyahu did not specify if he plans to dismantle the PA but told the organization to expect a big surprise.
