Israeli Military Enforces Prolonged Closure and Raids in Occupied West Bank City of Hebron

The Israeli military has maintained a strict lockdown of Hebron in the occupied West Bank for a seventh consecutive day, restricting resident movement and closing all entrances and exits to the territory's largest city. The security measures and ongoing raids follow an incident last week near the illegal Israeli settlement of Telem where Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers before being killed by forces in Hebron.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on social media that he instructed security forces to immediately seal Hebron and prepare for a comprehensive lockdown throughout the West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly advocated for a military campaign in the region comparable to operations in Gaza. During the current operations, Israeli forces have demolished dozens of Palestinian buildings and converted multiple homes into military barracks, displacing more than 3,000 residents.

According to the Wafa news agency, two Palestinians sustained injuries and seven were detained on Thursday. Operations have also affected medical infrastructure, with troops firing tear gas canisters at Al-Ahli Hospital, creating panic among patients and staff. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society reported that at least 110 individuals, including three women and seven children, have been detained across the Hebron governorate since the raids commenced.

In addition to the urban restrictions, Israeli forces have isolated 12 villages and hamlets within the Masafer Yatta region to the south. This isolation has cut off local residents, farmers and dozens of patients requiring daily medical care from urban centres and markets.

Separately, Israeli settlers launched attacks targeting Palestinians and their vehicles near the northern entrance of Hebron in the Ras al-Joura area. In an incident on Wednesday, settlers assaulted three foreign journalists identified as Andrey Ilyich Khrzhanovskiy, Adele Shoko and Jasper Nathaniel. According to reports, Khrzhanovskiy lost consciousness, was transported to a police station and remained detained without medical treatment.