Israel Displaces Over 2,200 Palestinians in Hebron Following Death of Two Soldiers

Israel forced more than 2,200 Palestinians to leave their homes in Hebron following an attack carried out by two Palestinian gunmen on an Israeli military reserve base Friday, which resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and the attackers themselves.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the imposition of a "comprehensive lockdown" on the West Bank in the aftermath of the attack. Hebron's Mayor Yousef Al-Jabari confirmed to Al Jazeera that residents of the city cannot enter or exit it.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military conducted raids in at least 15 locations across the West Bank, including Jenin and Nablus in the north, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Birzeit, and occupied East Jerusalem in the center, and Bethlehem in the south. The Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission reported the arrest of approximately 70 Palestinians during these raids.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, called on Saturday for international pressure on Israel to protect Hebron's residents, as locals reported that soldiers announced evacuation orders via loudspeakers late at night without giving them time to prepare or sufficient places to relocate to. The Authority described what is happening as "collective punishment," citing the demolition of homes, the displacement of entire neighborhoods, and the imposition of a "siege on Palestinian cities," and called on the international community to intervene, according to what WAFA news agency reported.

Essa Amro, a human rights activist and political analyst based in Hebron, told Al Jazeera that approximately 800,000 Palestinians in Hebron Governorate are now "under siege, with all entrances and exits closed since morning." He added: "Inside the city, there is no safe place for anyone to turn to... the city is living in a state of genuine fear."

Israeli soldiers fired a stun grenade at Al Jazeera journalists near the Fawwara checkpoint in Hebron while they were documenting the demolition of homes and vehicles in the area.

Hamas movement confirmed in a statement that "the campaigns and escalation being waged by occupation forces and their criminal settlers against our people will only increase its anger."

Al Jazeera's West Bank correspondent Noor Odeh pointed out that Israeli politicians are seeking to "exploit" the attack for their benefit ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Odeh said that "Netanyahu and the Likud party and his allies in this right-wing coalition are declining in opinion polls," and that they are therefore "trying to present a firm position by claiming to confront Palestinians." Just days before the vote, Netanyahu avoided answering whether he intends to dissolve the Palestinian Authority, merely saying that a "big surprise" awaits the organization.