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

2,200 residents have been forced from their homes in the city of Hebron, according to Mayor Yousef al-Ja'bari. The displacement followed a strict military lockdown imposed by Israeli forces across the occupied West Bank. The closure began after two Palestinian gunmen attacked an Israeli army reserve base on Friday. Both attackers were killed in the engagement, along with two Israeli soldiers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank in response to the attack. On Saturday, al-Ja'bari reported that the city was sealed off, preventing residents from entering or leaving. Soldiers issued evacuation orders over loudspeakers late into the night, leaving families with limited time to gather belongings. The military conducted hundreds of raids in Hebron during this period.

The operations extended beyond the southern city. Correspondents documented Israeli military activity in at least 15 areas of the West Bank on Saturday. These locations included Jenin and Nablus in the north, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, and Birzeit in the center, and Bethlehem in the south. Journalists were also present near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint, where soldiers bulldozed homes and vehicles. During that operation, troops fired a stun grenade at the media team.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Society stated that forces arrested approximately 70 Palestinians during the weekend raids. The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, labeled the actions collective punishment. Officials cited home demolitions and the siege of Palestinian cities as key reasons for their appeal to the international community. They urged global leaders to intervene to protect residents.

The military pressure affects a large portion of the region's population. Approximately 200,000 Palestinians live in the city of Hebron, while another 600,000 reside in the surrounding governorate. Issa Amro, a local activist, described the situation as a total siege with all entrances and exits closed since morning. He stated that there is no safe place to hide within the city limits.

Hamas released a statement criticizing the escalation by the occupation and its settlers. The group said the actions would fuel further outrage among the population. The timeline of these events places them days before the Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Nour Odeh, a West Bank correspondent, noted that politicians are capitalizing on the attack to improve their standing. She observed that Netanyahu and his Likud party trail in the polls and are projecting strength by combating the Palestinian population.

Netanyahu addressed the status of the Palestinian Authority without confirming specific plans. He said a big surprise awaits the organization, though he avoided detailing whether it will be dismantled.