2,200 residents displaced in Hebron during West Bank lockdown

Israeli military operations have sealed off the city of Hebron, forcing residents to flee their homes following the fatal attack on an army reserve base. The lockdown represents a sharp escalation in tensions across the occupied West Bank just days before national elections.

Yousef al-Ja'bari, the mayor of Hebron, reported that 2,200 people have been displaced since the fighting began on Friday. He stated that hundreds of raids have been conducted since two Palestinian gunmen attacked the reserve base. Both gunmen and two Israeli soldiers were killed in the exchange of fire.

Residents described hearing soldiers announce evacuation orders over loudspeakers late at night. Al-Ja'bari noted that families had little time to prepare and few options for where to go. By Saturday, the city was fully sealed, preventing people from entering or leaving the area.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the full lockdown of the West Bank in response to the attack. Military operations expanded to at least fifteen locations, including Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Society reported that approximately 70 Palestinians were arrested during these sweeps.

The Palestinian Authority criticized the military actions as collective punishment, citing home demolitions and the siege of cities. Issa Amro, a political analyst based in Hebron, said the 800,000 residents of the governorate are now under siege with all entrances closed. He added that there is no safe place to hide inside the city.

The timeline of these events coincides with Israeli parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Nour Odeh, a correspondent for Al Jazeera, observed that politicians are attempting to capitalize on the attack to improve their standing in the polls. Netanyahu has not confirmed plans to dismantle the Palestinian Authority but indicated that a major surprise awaits the organization.