Hebron, MINA – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the immediate closure of Hebron and instructed security forces to prepare for a comprehensive lockdown across the occupied West Bank following a shooting that wounded five Israeli settlers and the killing of two Palestinians by Israeli army fire near Halhul.
In a statement on Friday, Netanyahu said he had directed the Israeli military and security agencies to close Hebron immediately and prepare for a wider lockdown across the territory, which Israel refers to as Judea and Samaria.
The order followed a security assessment attended by senior defense and security officials, including the military chief of staff and the heads of the Shin Bet and National Security Council.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had approved a security cordon around Hebron and nearby villages following the reported shooting.
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Witnesses told Anadolu that Israeli forces closed all entrances to Hebron using iron gates, effectively isolating the city. Military forces also blocked access to surrounding towns and residential communities with earth mounds and checkpoints, restricting movement between Palestinian communities.
Israeli forces reportedly raided areas on the outskirts of Hebron and several nearby towns, searched shops, and seized surveillance camera footage as part of their operations.
The measures come days before Israel’s legislative elections, scheduled for October 27, amid heightened tensions across the occupied West Bank.
Since October 2023, Israeli military operations and settler violence have intensified across the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem. Palestinians have faced killings, arrests, home demolitions, damage to agricultural land, and attacks on homes, vehicles, and religious sites. Restrictions on access to farmland and the expansion of Israeli settlements have also contributed to the displacement of Palestinian communities.
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The closure of Hebron and preparations for a territory-wide lockdown threaten to further disrupt daily life for Palestinians, limiting access to workplaces, schools, health services, and essential supplies. Movement restrictions can also impede emergency services and deepen the economic difficulties faced by communities already affected by military operations.
The timing and scope of the measures have raised concerns about their impact on Palestinian civilians, particularly if restrictions are extended across the West Bank. The developments add to the broader tensions surrounding Israeli military operations and the continuing restrictions imposed on Palestinians living under occupation.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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