Israel's West Bank Siege Enters Eighth Day Amidst Escalating Raids, Arrests, and Displacement

Israeli forces continued their extensive siege on cities and towns in the occupied West Bank on Friday, marking the eighth consecutive day of operations in the Hebron Governorate. The intensified military actions include widespread raids, arrests, and settler attacks, alongside ongoing forced displacements and the destruction of Palestinian property.

Significant military reinforcements, including engineering units, were deployed by Israeli occupation forces to the Deir Bahha area, west of Hebron, entering via the city’s northern entrance near Farsh al-Hawa. Access to the governorate's entrances, as well as the al-Jalda and Deir Bahha areas, remains blocked. Occupation forces conducted raids and searches of homes, causing damage to their contents. In the city of Hebron and the village of al-Rihiya to the south, forces stormed several neighborhoods, detaining three Palestinians. Among those arrested was a former prisoner released just the previous day, Thursday. According to the Palestinian news agency “Wafa,” these arrests were reportedly linked to homecoming celebrations for the former prisoner’s family, and the detainees were physically assaulted by the forces.

Official data reveals that 537 families, totaling 3,361 Palestinians, have been displaced from the al-Jalda and Deir Bahha areas due to military operations and persistent closures. Large areas remain under siege and are subjected to daily raids. Local sources estimate daily economic losses from the closure of Hebron to be between 10 and 12 million shekels. The sieges have also severely impacted the education of approximately 262,000 students across 589 schools in the governorate.

In Tulkarm, four Palestinians were arrested by occupation forces following raids on homes in the towns of Kafr Sur and Kafr Abbush, south of the city. These forces have continued their incursions throughout various parts of the West Bank, conducting search operations, field interrogations, and detaining Palestinians.

Settler violence against Palestinian villages and communities has also seen an increase. A Palestinian man suffered bruises and wounds after being assaulted in the town of Burqa, northwest of Nablus. Settler attacks also targeted families in Mas’udiya and Yasid. Farmers in the town of Beit ar-Rush al-Fuqa were prevented from accessing their land, and an agricultural structure was set on fire in Masafer Yatta. Numerous Palestinians faced assaults in other areas, all occurring amidst ongoing restrictions on farmers during the olive harvest season.

Hamas stated that the ongoing aggression against Hebron and other West Bank cities and towns exemplifies Israel’s policy of collective punishment and forced displacement. The movement asserted that the demolition of homes, destruction of property, and targeting of residential areas will not undermine the resolve of the Palestinian people. Hamas urged the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to take immediate action to cease military operations and violations in the West Bank.