West Bank Under Siege: Palestinian Lives Disrupted Amidst Israeli Election and Military Operations

As Israelis head to the polls for a pivotal election, many Palestinians in the West Bank find their lives severely restricted. A wave of Israeli military operations, particularly around Hebron, has led to widespread confinement of residents to their homes and neighborhoods. The city of Hebron has been under lockdown since Friday, following an attack at an army checkpoint that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and injuries to three others. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the isolation of Hebron and a house-to-house search in the neighborhood of the assailants, vowing to "destroy this place, to change it completely." This has resulted in a significant displacement operation in the Hebron area, with thousands forced from their homes. Residents of the al-Jalda and Ein Deir Baha neighborhoods were ordered out by loudspeaker by soldiers. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that residents would not be permitted to return until all "Hamas issues in Hebron" were resolved. By Monday, the fourth day of the closure, Hebron Municipality data, as cited by Wafa news agency, indicated that at least 3,171 Palestinians from 488 families had been displaced. Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin reported that Israeli forces had searched over 500 homes, arrested more than 70 individuals, and imposed severe movement restrictions with 128 closed gates and 120 checkpoints throughout the city. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society noted that among the displaced were 127 infants, 81 pregnant women, and 26 individuals with disabilities, with at least 47 people detained in Hebron since Friday. Furthermore, bulldozers demolished a three-apartment building owned by Riyad Amrish, along with a tile and ceramics factory, an auto-parts shop, and other businesses in Farsh al-Hawa, an action reportedly ordered by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, according to Israel’s Channel 12. The Israeli NGO B’Tselem has warned that these operations constitute "collective punishment and acts that could constitute war crimes." These sieges extend beyond Hebron, with strategic encirclement of Palestinian communities in the West Bank intensifying. In Wadi al-Rakheem, the family of Yusuf Shanaran has been under siege by Israeli settlers for three weeks, facing difficulties in leaving or receiving aid without army coordination. In Umm Safa, a house belonging to Mohammad al-Obaiyat received a demolition order after months of being blocked by a gate, with settlers reportedly attempting to break into the besieged home. The village of Madama, south of Nablus, is recovering from a two-week siege of its entrances, with ongoing restrictions. Twelve communities in Masafer Yatta were cut off for several days, impacting access for teachers. The Israeli army also barred Palestinian workers from illegal Israeli settlements and planned to close all crossings on election day. Palestinian citizens of Israel, the only group eligible to vote, may also face challenges, as reports suggest the Likud party intended to challenge results from Arab polling stations. The olive harvest has also been marred by unprecedented settler violence, theft, and closed-military-zone orders. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission documented 482 attacks on the harvest. Meanwhile, Israel released nine settlers arrested for previous attacks, while violence continued. Reports indicate theft of olives and equipment, assaults on farmers, settlers firing live rounds, property damage, detentions, expulsions, and arson targeting olive trees and homes. Volunteers offering solidarity were also targeted, with some detained. In Gaza, at least 37 more Palestinians were killed in ongoing Israeli attacks. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported significant casualties and injuries. Among the week's fatalities were Akram Yassin and his wife, Dina Abu Bakr, and children Majdi Mohammad Fakhri Hassan and Rafif Raed Lubad, along with Fatima Abu Laban. Three security guards at the Islamic University in Gaza City were also killed in a strike. Worsening hunger in Gaza was exacerbated by closed crossings, leading to flour shortages and soaring prices for basic goods. Some relief began on the evening of October 23, with the resumption of commercial goods and the delivery of flour.