Nearly 5,000 Displaced as Israel Seals 10 Entrances in Hebron Siege

An escalating Hebron military siege has forced 4,969 Palestinians from their homes and sealed off ten major access routes across the southern West Bank city, according to municipal data and human rights documentation. The sweeping blockade, which entered its second week on Friday, affects roughly 780 families, representing approximately two percent of the city's 250,000 inhabitants.

The operation began on Friday, October 23, after two Palestinian attackers fatally shot two Israeli soldiers and injured three others before being killed by military forces. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an immediate closure of Hebron on social media, instructing security personnel to prepare for widespread lockdowns throughout the territory and proclaiming an intent to completely alter and destroy the site.

Nearly 5,000 residents are displaced as Israeli forces seal off 10 key entry points into Hebron.

The displacement count surged rapidly, rising from around 2,200 individuals on October 24 to nearly 5,000 within two days. Those forced out include 441 elderly residents, 336 infants younger than two, 312 people with chronic medical conditions, over 200 pregnant or nursing women, and 44 individuals with disabilities. Hebron Mayor Yousef al-Jabari condemned the measures as collective punishment, describing how families and crying children were cast out into the streets past midnight.

Widespread Blockades and Enforced Displacement

Troops established closures between 2.4 and 7.6 kilometers from the city center, sealing northern gateways at Halhul, Nabi Yunus, and Ras al-Jora; the northeastern access at Beit Einun; and the northwestern route at Bir al-Mahjar. Blockades were also mounted along the eastern and southern perimeters at Jabal Juhar, al-Fahs, Qalqas, al-Harayiq, and Dura.

Inside the city, authorities designated an eviction sector covering 0.35 square kilometers—housing over 500 families—while demarcating a closed military zone spanning 0.29 square kilometers to the west. Residents in the al-Jalda and Ein Deir Bahha areas were ordered out via loudspeakers around midnight on the campaign's opening day. Displaced households have largely relied on relatives in districts such as Issa, with 283 families sheltering with kin, 266 situated in zones deemed unsafe by the municipality, and only 23 obtaining rented housing. No residents have accessed formal shelters.

Demolitions and Mass Detentions

In the western Farsh al-Hawa area, soldiers demolished a three-flat residential property, leveled 7,000 square meters of land, and struck commercial sites, including a ceramics firm and auto parts shops. Several civilian homes were repurposed as military posts and draped with Israeli flags.

The Israeli military stated its raids target weapons, suspects, and militant infrastructure. Defense Minister Israel Katz affirmed that residents will not return until Hamas structures are cleared, though Israeli news platform Ynet reported that the army noted limited achievements in weapons recovery alongside legal hurdles regarding long-term civilian exclusion.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoner's Society reported approximately 110 arrests over the first six days, including seven minors, persons with disabilities, and eight relatives of the deceased gunmen. The group also documented field interrogations involving hundreds of residents on roadways and in homes, alleging widespread beatings and mistreatment by troops.