Netanyahu orders 800,000 people sealed in Hebron after ambush

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank, sealing off a population of 800,000 in Hebron and its surrounding governorate. The directive followed a fatal ambush on an Israeli army reserve base on Friday. Hebron Mayor Yousef al-Ja'bari reported that 2,200 residents have been forced from their homes as a result of the military operation.

The sequence of events began on Friday when two Palestinian gunmen attacked a reserve base in Hebron. All four combatants, including the two Israeli soldiers, were killed in the exchange. Israeli forces immediately launched raids across the occupied territory. On Saturday, soldiers announced evacuation orders over loudspeakers late at night, leaving families with minimal time to prepare. Al-Ja'bari confirmed that the city was fully sealed on Saturday, preventing residents from entering or exiting.

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

The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, characterized the military response as collective punishment. Officials cited home demolitions, the displacement of entire neighborhoods, and the closure of Palestinian cities. The PA urged the international community to intervene to protect residents. Hamas issued a statement claiming that Israeli campaigns against the population would fuel further outrage.

Hebron is the most populous area in the West Bank, home to 200,000 people in the city and another 600,000 in the wider governorate. Issa Amro, a Hebron-based political analyst, stated that all entrances and exits were closed since morning. He described the city as being under siege, noting that there is no safe place to hide inside the urban center.

The military escalation occurs three days before Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Nour Odeh, a West Bank correspondent, reported that Israeli politicians are attempting to capitalize on the attack. She noted that Netanyahu and his Likud party are currently trailing in polls, and their right-wing coalition allies are working to project a strong stance against Palestinian residents.

Netanyahu addressed the Palestinian Authority but avoided stating whether he intends to dismantle the governing body. He indicated that a big surprise awaits the organization. The current lockdown remains in effect as of Saturday, with 2,200 residents displaced and 800,000 people confined within Hebron's borders.