Israeli army continues incursions in Hebron for 8th consecutive day amid tightened restrictions

The Israeli army continued its military incursions in Hebron, in the southern occupied West Bank, for the eighth consecutive day on Friday, carrying out raids and tightening restrictions on the city, local sources told Anadolu. Israeli forces raided the Jilada and Ain Deir Baha neighborhoods, deploying large numbers of soldiers and military vehicles, according to the sources. The military also forced dozens of Palestinians in the Ain Deir Baha neighborhood to evacuate their homes, they said.

The latest developments come after the Israeli army launched its offensive on Oct. 23, following a shooting that killed two Israeli soldiers in the Farsh al-Hawa area at Hebron's northwestern entrance. The army later killed the two Palestinians and tightened restrictions in the city. The local sources added that the army brought military reinforcements to the vicinity of the homes of Ahmad and Hamouda al-Ja’ba – the two individuals accused of shooting the Israeli soldiers in Farsh al-Hawa.

The military also searched the two houses belonging to the al-Ja'ba family, they said. The sources said sounds of digging could be heard inside the two houses, but provided no further details. Anadolu’s camera documented Israeli forces detaining Palestinians at military checkpoints near the Jilada roundabout in Hebron, searching them and subjecting them to ill-treatment. Hebron Municipality said Tuesday evening that the ongoing military offensive had displaced 4,969 Palestinians from 780 families.

During the first days of the offensive, Hebron witnessed forced displacement, the demolition of homes, facilities and shops, and the destruction of infrastructure. Israeli forces also converted homes into military barracks and raised Israeli flags over them. The Israeli army arrested 110 Palestinians in the governorate between the start of the offensive and Wednesday, according to a statement by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society. The developments come amid escalating Israeli military attacks and occupier violence against Palestinians across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since Israel launched its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

These attacks include the killing and arrest of Palestinians, demolition of homes and facilities, arson attacks on mosques and vehicles, bulldozing of agricultural land, preventing farmers from accessing their fields, displacing Palestinian communities and expanding illegal settlements.