Israeli forces have continued raids across the occupied West Bank as the lockdown of Hebron, the territory's largest city, entered its sixth day on Wednesday, with operations reported in the city, nearby towns and refugee camps.
Troops raided several neighbourhoods in Hebron city and towns across the wider governorate, tightening restrictions at the entrances to the city, the Anadolu news agency reported. The Fawwar refugee camp south of Hebron was raided around midnight, with troops searching several Palestinian homes. In Tulkarem, four Palestinians were detained, including a journalist, his two brothers and an officer working for the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, according to the Wafa news agency.
Elsewhere, troops fired tear gas at protesters in Beita, south of Nablus, who were demonstrating against the demolition of two homes belonging to the families of two Palestinian prisoners. A Palestinian man suffered fractures to his hand after being beaten by Israeli forces during a raid on the village of Yasid, north of Nablus. In Burin village, troops raided homes and converted several into military barracks, Wafa reported. Schools in southern Nablus have been ordered to switch to remote learning to protect students and staff.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has expressed "grave concern" over Israel's continued incursions into Hebron, which it says have displaced nearly 5,000 Palestinians, warning that "collective punishment" violates international law. Roland Friedrich, the director of UNRWA Affairs for the occupied West Bank, said in a post on X: "A near-total lockdown across large parts of Hebron has severely restricted residents' freedom of movement and their ability to access critical services. These developments bring alarming echoes of the massive displacement witnessed in the northern occupied West Bank in early 2025, where more than 34,000 Palestine refugees from Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps remain forcibly displaced over a year later."
The operation follows the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint last week. The gunmen were later killed by Israeli forces. Palestinian officials have accused Netanyahu and his hard-right government of exploiting the operation to secure settler votes before Tuesday's elections in Israel.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The lockdown of Hebron, the West Bank's largest city, has displaced nearly 5,000 Palestinians and restricted access to critical services, with events unfolding days before Israeli elections.
- UNRWA warns the campaign echoes a 2025 northern West Bank operation that still leaves more than 34,000 refugees displaced.
- The raids follow the killing of two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint, raising the risk of further escalation.
Background
Hebron is the largest city in the occupied West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation for decades. The current lockdown began after Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint last week; the gunmen were later killed by Israeli forces. Israel is due to hold elections on Tuesday, and Palestinian officials say the government has used the operation to appeal to settler voters. UNRWA says the displacement in Hebron mirrors a campaign in the northern West Bank in early 2025.
Key Perspectives
UNRWA: expressed "grave concern" over the incursions and warned that "collective punishment" violates international law, saying nearly 5,000 Palestinians have been displaced.
Palestinian officials: accused Netanyahu and his hard-right government of exploiting the operation to secure settler votes before Tuesday's elections in Israel.
What to Watch
- Whether the Hebron lockdown is extended or eased, and whether the number of displaced residents rises.
- The result of Tuesday's Israeli elections and its effect on the operation's continuation.
- Any further statements from UNRWA or the UN on whether the incursions amount to collective punishment.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedIsraeli forces continued raids across the occupied West Bank as the Hebron lockdown entered its sixth day.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The Israeli army has continued its incursions into Hebron as its lockdown of the occupied West Bank’s largest city entered its sixth day.”
- SupportedHebron is the occupied West Bank’s largest city, and the lockdown entered its sixth day on Wednesday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The Israeli army has continued its incursions into Hebron as its lockdown of the occupied West Bank’s largest city entered its sixth day. Israeli forces raided several neighbourhoods in Hebron city as well as towns across the wider governorate on Wednesday”
- SupportedUNRWA said the incursions had displaced nearly 5,000 Palestinians.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “UNRWA expressed “grave concern” over Israel’s continued incursions into Hebron, which have displaced nearly 5,000 Palestinians”
- SupportedUNRWA warned that collective punishment violates international law.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “which have displaced nearly 5,000 Palestinians, warning that “collective punishment” violates international law.”
- SupportedRoland Friedrich said the lockdown severely restricted residents’ movement and access to critical services.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““A near-total lockdown across large parts of Hebron has severely restricted residents’ freedom of movement and their ability to access critical services,” Roland Friedrich, the director of UNRWA Affairs for the occupied West Bank, said in a post on X.”
- SupportedFriedrich said more than 34,000 Palestine refugees from three camps remained forcibly displaced over a year after displacement in early 2025.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““These developments bring alarming echoes of the massive displacement witnessed in the northern occupied West Bank in early 2025, where more than 34,000 Palestine refugees from Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps remain forcibly displaced over a year later.””
- SupportedTroops raided Fawwar refugee camp around midnight and searched several Palestinian homes.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Troops also raided the Fawwar refugee camp south of Hebron about midnight, searching several Palestinian homes.”
- SupportedFour Palestinians were detained in Tulkarem, including a journalist, his two brothers and a Palestinian General Intelligence Service officer, according to Wafa.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “detaining four Palestinians in Tulkarem, the Wafa news agency reported. Those detained included a journalist and his two brothers, alongside an officer working for the Palestinian General Intelligence Service.”
- SupportedTroops fired tear gas at Beita protesters demonstrating against the demolition of two homes belonging to families of Palestinian prisoners.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In the town of Beita, south of Nablus, troops fired tear gas at protesters demonstrating against the demolition of two homes belonging to the families of two Palestinian prisoners.”
- SupportedA Palestinian man suffered hand fractures after Israeli forces beat him during a raid on Yasid.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “A Palestinian man sustained fractures to his hand after Israeli forces beat him during an attack on the village of Yasid, north of Nablus.”
- SupportedThe operation followed the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint last week; Israeli forces later killed the gunmen.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Israel’s campaign follows the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint last week. The gunmen were later killed by Israeli forces.”
- SupportedPalestinian officials accused Netanyahu and his hard-right government of exploiting the operation to secure settler votes before Tuesday’s Israeli elections.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Palestinian officials have accused Netanyahu and his hard-right government of exploiting the operation to secure settler votes before Tuesday’s elections in Israel.”