Hebron Mayor Reports 2,200 Displaced as West Bank Sealed After Base Attack

2,200 people were forced from their homes in Hebron after Israeli forces sealed the city on Saturday. This number was reported by Hebron Mayor Yousef al-Ja'bari as part of a wider military response to the killing of two Israeli soldiers at a reserve base earlier in the week.

The military launched a "full lockdown" of the West Bank following an order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Residents stated that soldiers issued evacuation directives via loudspeakers late at night, leaving families with minimal time to prepare. Al-Ja'bari confirmed that by Saturday, the city was completely closed to both entry and exit traffic.

Israeli forces conducted raids in at least 15 locations across the territory on Saturday. These operations spanned from Jenin and Nablus in the north to Bethlehem in the south, including central areas such as Ramallah, Al-Bireh, and Birzeit. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society reported that approximately 70 Palestinians were arrested during these sweeps. Journalists documenting a bulldozing operation near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint were targeted with a stun grenade by soldiers.

The Palestinian Authority, which administers the West Bank, labeled the military actions "collective punishment." The authority cited home demolitions and the siege of Palestinian cities in a request for international intervention. Hamas, in a separate statement, argued that the escalation by the occupation and settlers would "fuel further outrage" among the population.

Issa Amro, a Palestinian activist based in Hebron, noted that roughly 800,000 people in the governorate are currently under siege. He stated that all entrances and exits to the city have been closed since the morning, leaving residents with no safe place to hide. Hebron is the most populous district in the West Bank, containing approximately 200,000 residents in the city proper and 600,000 in the surrounding areas.

The military offensive is occurring in the days leading up to Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Correspondents reported that political leaders are attempting to leverage the attack for electoral gain, with Netanyahu and his Likud party currently trailing in polling. Netanyahu has not confirmed whether he intends to dismantle the Palestinian Authority but indicated that a "big surprise" awaits the organization.

Both attackers in the Friday ambush were killed along with the two soldiers. The incident triggered the immediate closure of West Bank borders and the displacement of thousands, marking a sharp increase in military activity ahead of the upcoming vote.