Israeli army continues Hebron siege for 2nd day, arrests 19 Palestinians in West Bank

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.2 findings

The Israeli army continued its siege of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank for a second consecutive day on Saturday, forcing dozens of Palestinians from their homes, according to Palestinian media. Israeli forces raided the al-Jilda and Deir Bahha areas in central Hebron and placed them under a complete siege, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. The army also forced dozens of residents to leave their homes and stand outdoors in the early morning hours, according to the news agency.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

The article says only that dozens of Palestinians were forced from their homes. The same day, a Palestinian official put the number at around 1,200 displaced, with about 1,300 more facing the loss of their homes. Without this a reader underestimates the scale of the expulsions.

How we know

France 24 (English) reported“The Israeli military forced around 1,200 Palestinians to leave their homes in Hebron in the occupied West Bank”Israeli forces displace 1,200 Palestinians in Hebron after deadly attack on soldiers (opens in a new tab)

The incursion involved the deployment of additional military vehicles and bulldozers, the closure of main entrances and roads leading to Hebron, and the isolation of the city from surrounding areas, Wafa said. It said Israeli forces also raided and searched homes, detained dozens of residents and subjected them to field interrogations before releasing them Saturday morning. Separately, Israeli forces detained 19 Palestinians in raids across the occupied West Bank.

The arrests included two Palestinians from the Hindaza area and al-Azza refugee camp in Bethlehem governorate, 16 from Nablus governorate and a young man from Aqabat Jabr refugee camp in Jericho. The occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, has seen an escalation in Israeli military attacks and violence by occupiers since Israel launched its war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023. The attacks have included killings and arrests of Palestinians, demolitions of homes and other structures, the burning of mosques and vehicles, and the leveling of agricultural land.

They have also involved restrictions on farmers' access to their fields, the displacement of Palestinian communities and the expansion of settlements. On Friday, the Israeli army claimed that two Palestinians were killed in a shootout with Israeli forces. The army alleged that the Palestinians had opened fire at Israeli settlers in Hebron, wounding five people. Following the reported shooting, the Israeli army announced Friday a complete closure of Hebron and several surrounding towns.

Read the original article on aa.com.tr

What we found (2)

Anadolu Agency names Israeli forces as the actor throughout and attributes each claim to its source. But its only account of the attack that set off the siege says the Palestinians fired at settlers and wounded five. Other outlets reported that two Israeli soldiers were killed at a checkpoint near Hebron, so a reader gets a wrong picture of the event that led to the siege.

Leaves out what changes the picture
Serious
“the Palestinians had opened fire at Israeli settlers in Hebron, wounding five people”
Why this matters
These words give the only account in the article of the Friday attack that led to the siege: fire at settlers in Hebron, five people wounded. The article never says that anyone on the Israeli side was killed, or that the shooting was at a military checkpoint.
The impression it gives
A reader believes the trigger for the siege was an attack on settlers that wounded five people and killed no one apart from the two Palestinians.
The context
Same-day and next-day coverage reports that two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a military checkpoint near Hebron and killed two Israeli soldiers. The article leaves out both the deaths and the checkpoint, so it misdescribes the event the whole story turns on.
How we know
- France 24 (English) reported“the soldiers were killed when two Palestinian gunmen opened fire ⁠at a military checkpoint near the city”Israeli forces displace 1,200 Palestinians in Hebron after deadly attack on soldiers (opens in a new tab)
- Middle East Eye reported“in response to Palestinian gunmen killing two soldiers at a checkpoint near Hebron on Friday”Israeli press review: Israel to lockdown West Bank as Netanyahu orders Hebron siege (opens in a new tab)
- Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “checkpoint” and “soldiers”.
Show it in the article
Written straight
On Friday, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a military checkpoint near Hebron and killed two Israeli soldiers, according to the army, which said the gunmen were shot dead. The army then announced a complete closure of Hebron and several surrounding towns.
Leaves out what changes the picture
Minor
What is missing
The article says only that dozens of Palestinians were forced from their homes. The same day, a Palestinian official put the number at around 1,200 displaced, with about 1,300 more facing the loss of their homes. Without this a reader underestimates the scale of the expulsions.
How we know
- France 24 (English) reported“The Israeli military forced around 1,200 Palestinians to leave their homes in Hebron in the occupied West Bank”Israeli forces displace 1,200 Palestinians in Hebron after deadly attack on soldiers (opens in a new tab)
Show where it belongs

How other outlets reported it

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