Israeli forces hold Hebron under seventh day of siege

Israeli military forces have maintained a total lockdown of Hebron for seven days, closing all city entrances and exits. The siege, which began last Friday, has forced more than 3,000 residents to leave their homes. Palestinian authorities report that two people were injured and seven were detained during raids on Thursday.

The operation follows the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint near the settlement of Telem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on social media that he ordered security forces to close the city immediately. He declared an intent to change the area completely and prepare for a full lockdown across the West Bank.

Since the siege began, Israeli troops have demolished dozens of buildings and converted Palestinian homes into military barracks. Footage showed soldiers beating Hijazi Shawer, a 70-year-old shopkeeper, while forces also fired tear gas at Al-Ahli Hospital. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society reported that 110 people, including three women and seven children, were detained in the Hebron governorate by Wednesday.

Settlers have expanded their attacks in the region. On Wednesday, three foreign journalists were assaulted in the Ras al-Joura area, and one lost consciousness. Settlers also uprooted over 200 fruit trees and destroyed water wells east of the city. Hebron accounts for roughly 40 percent of Palestinian industrial output and 30 percent of exports.

Human rights groups and international officials have criticized the military campaign. B’Tselem described the operation as collective punishment rather than a security measure. Volker Turk, the UN Human Rights chief, said such actions violate international law and raise concerns about ethnic cleansing.

Palestinian officials suggest the timing of the operation aims to secure settler votes ahead of Israeli elections scheduled for Tuesday this week. Al-Haq, a local rights organization, labeled the siege an international crime given the context of the occupation. Muhammad Shehada of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor noted that the government is using the tactic to make life impossible for residents, advancing de facto annexation.

The isolation has extended to 12 villages in the Masafer Yatta region, cutting off farmers from markets and patients from daily medical care. Residents in these areas remain stranded as the military maintains its grip on the city’s infrastructure and movement.