Israel Seals West Bank After Two Soldiers Killed in Hebron

2,200 residents of Hebron were forced from their homes after Israeli forces sealed the city following a deadly attack on a military base. The evacuation orders came late at night, leaving families with minimal time to gather belongings before soldiers cut off entry and exit routes.

Yousef al-Ja'bari, the mayor of Hebron, confirmed the displacement figure on Saturday. He reported that hundreds of Israeli raids had occurred since Friday, when two Palestinian gunmen attacked an Israeli army reserve base. Both attackers and two Israeli soldiers were killed in the engagement. Al-Ja'bari stated that the city was completely closed on Saturday, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank in response to the attack. Israeli correspondents documented operations in at least 15 areas on Saturday. These included Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Birzeit, occupied East Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society reported that Israeli forces arrested approximately 70 Palestinians during these operations.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, labeled the military actions as collective punishment. Officials cited home demolitions, forced displacements, and the closure of Palestinian cities as evidence of this policy. They urged the international community to intervene to protect residents. Hamas also issued a statement, claiming that escalations by the occupation would fuel further outrage among the population.

Approximately 800,000 people live in Hebron city and its surrounding governorate. Issa Amro, a local activist, described the situation as a siege with all entrances and exits closed. He noted that there is no safe place to hide within the city. The governorate is the most populous in the West Bank, with 200,000 residents in the city proper and 600,000 in the wider area.

Journalists covering the conflict reported that soldiers fired a stun grenade at Al Jazeera reporters near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint. The incident occurred during an Israeli operation to bulldoze homes and vehicles. The military response comes days before parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27.

Netanyahu suggested that a big surprise awaits the Palestinian Authority, though he did not specify whether he plans to dismantle the organization. Polls indicate that his Likud party and right-wing coalition allies are currently trailing in the race.