Israel Seals West Bank After Two Soldiers Die in Hebron Ambush

2,200 Palestinians have been forced out of their homes in Hebron following a military lockdown that began after two Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush. Hebron Mayor Yousef al-Ja'bari confirmed the displacement figures on Friday. The city is now under a full seal, with all entrances and exits closed.

The crisis started when two Palestinian gunmen attacked an Israeli army reserve base in Hebron on Friday. Both attackers and the two soldiers died in the incident. Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a complete lockdown of the West Bank. Residents reported that soldiers used loudspeakers to announce evacuation orders late at night, leaving families with little time to pack.

Israeli forces conducted raids in at least 15 areas of the West Bank on Saturday. These locations included Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Birzeit, East Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society stated that approximately 70 Palestinians were arrested during these operations. Journalists from Al Jazeera reported being targeted by soldiers near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint. The troops fired a stun grenade at them while they documented the demolition of homes and vehicles.

The Palestinian Authority described the military actions as collective punishment. Their statement, distributed via the Wafa news agency, cited home demolitions and the closure of Palestinian cities. They urged the international community to apply pressure on Israel to protect residents. Hamas also issued a statement, claiming that the escalations by the occupation and settlers would fuel further outrage among the population.

Hebron is the most populous governorate in the West Bank, home to roughly 200,000 people within the city limits and another 600,000 in the surrounding area. Issa Amro, a local activist and political analyst, said these 800,000 individuals are currently under siege. He noted that there is no safe place to hide inside the city. Al-Ja'bari stated that on Saturday, people were unable to enter or leave the city.

The military operations are occurring just days before Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh observed that Israeli politicians are using the attack to their advantage. She noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Likud party are trailing in the polls. Odeh said the coalition is trying to present a strong stance on combating Palestinians. Netanyahu has avoided clarifying if he plans to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, though he mentioned a big surprise awaits the organization.