Netanyahu orders sweeping West Bank lockdown after Hebron attack

For residents of Hebron, the daily routine has been replaced by a state of emergency that began in the small hours of the morning. Families received evacuation orders via loudspeaker announcements late on Friday night, leaving many with little time to gather belongings or decide where to go. By Saturday, the city was sealed off, preventing people from either entering or exiting, which has isolated a population of approximately 200,000 within the city limits and another 600,000 in the wider governorate.

The military operation follows a deadly incident on Friday when two Palestinian gunmen attacked an Israeli army reserve base. Both attackers were killed during the engagement, as were two Israeli soldiers. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank. This move has triggered a wave of security activity that local officials describe as unprecedented in its scale and speed.

Yousef al-Ja'bari, the mayor of Hebron, stated that 2,200 people have been forced from their homes. He reported that hundreds of raids have been conducted since the initial attack on Friday. The timing of the evacuation orders, which came in the dead of night, has left many residents feeling vulnerable and unprepared for the sudden displacement.

Israeli forces have not limited their operations to Hebron alone. Correspondents have documented raids in at least fifteen different areas across the West Bank on Saturday. These locations include Jenin and Nablus in the north, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, and Birzeit in the central region, as well as occupied East Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the south. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society reported that approximately seventy Palestinians have been arrested in these sweeping operations.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, has criticized the military response, labeling it as collective punishment. The administration pointed to home demolitions, the forced displacement of entire neighborhoods, and the closure and siege of Palestinian cities as evidence of this approach. According to the Wafa news agency, the PA has called on the international community to apply pressure on Israel to protect the residents of these besieged areas.

Hamas also issued a statement in response to the escalating violence. The group stated that the campaigns and escalations carried out by the occupation and its settlers would only fuel further outrage among the population. This rhetoric adds another layer of tension to an already volatile security environment.

Issa Amro, a political analyst and activist based in Hebron, described the current situation as a complete siege. He noted that all entrances and exits to the city were closed starting in the morning. Amro emphasized that there is currently no safe place for anyone to hide inside the city, adding that the atmosphere is one of genuine fear.

The timing of these events is significant for Israeli politics, as they occur just days before parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Nour Odeh, a correspondent for the region, observed that Israeli politicians are attempting to capitalize on the attack. She noted that Netanyahu, his Likud party, and their right-wing coalition allies are currently trailing in the polls. Consequently, they are striving to project a strong image by emphasizing their fight against Palestinians.

Netanyahu has not explicitly stated whether he intends to dismantle the Palestinian Authority. However, he hinted that a big surprise awaits the organization, leaving the future of the PA's governance in the West Bank uncertain as the military operations continue.