Hebron Mayor: 2,200 Ousted After West Bank Sealed
Two thousand residents displaced as Israeli forces conduct raids across the West Bank.
By Adewale Rousseau ·
Israeli forces sealed the city of Hebron on Saturday after two soldiers died in an ambush on Friday. The military simultaneously launched raids across the occupied West Bank, displacing thousands of Palestinians and cutting off the region's most populous governorate from the outside world.
Hebron Mayor Yousef al-Ja'bari stated that 2,200 people have been forced from their homes. He reported that hundreds of Israeli raids have occurred since the initial attack at an army reserve base. Two Palestinian gunmen killed the two soldiers during that incident, and both attackers were killed in return.
Residents reported that soldiers used loudspeakers to issue evacuation orders late at night. Families had little time to gather belongings and limited destinations. Al-Ja'bari confirmed that on Saturday, the city was completely closed, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank following the ambush. Israeli raids touched at least 15 areas by Saturday. These included Jenin and Nablus in the north, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Birzeit, and East Jerusalem in the center, and Bethlehem in the south. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society estimated that forces arrested approximately 70 people during these operations.
The Palestinian Authority described the military actions as collective punishment. The governing body cited home demolitions, the displacement of entire neighborhoods, and the closure of cities. It urged the international community to apply pressure on Israel. Hamas issued a statement claiming that escalations by the occupation and settlers would fuel further outrage among Palestinians.
The lockdown affects roughly 800,000 residents, including 200,000 in Hebron city and 600,000 in the surrounding governorate. Issa Amro, a local activist and analyst, said all entrances and exits have been closed since morning. He noted that there is no safe place inside the city for people to hide.
The military operations occurred days before Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Correspondent Nour Odeh said politicians are capitalizing on the attack while trailing in the polls. Netanyahu declined to specify if the government plans to dismantle the Palestinian Authority but said a big surprise awaits the organization.
Source: Al Jazeera
