Israeli Forces Continue Hebron Siege and Arrest 19 Palestinians
RAMALLAH, Palestine / ISTANBUL — October 24, 2026
Israeli forces continued their military siege of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank for a second consecutive day on Saturday, forcing residents from their homes, restricting movement and carrying out arrests, according to Palestinian media reports.
The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli troops raided the al-Jilda and Deir Bahha neighbourhoods in central Hebron and imposed a complete blockade on the areas. Dozens of Palestinians were reportedly ordered to leave their homes during the early morning hours and remain outside.
The operation involved additional military vehicles and bulldozers, while Israeli forces closed major entrances and roads leading to Hebron, effectively isolating the city from nearby communities.
According to Wafa, soldiers also searched residential properties and detained numerous residents for field interrogations. Those individuals were reportedly released on Saturday morning.
Separately, Israeli forces arrested 19 Palestinians during raids across the occupied West Bank. The detainees included two people from the Hindaza area and al-Azza refugee camp in Bethlehem governorate, 16 individuals from Nablus governorate and a young man from Aqabat Jabr refugee camp near Jericho.
Rising Tensions Across the Occupied West Bank
The latest operations come amid increased Israeli military activity and reported violence by Israeli settlers across the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, since the war in Gaza began in October 2023.
Reported incidents have included the killing and arrest of Palestinians, demolitions of homes and other structures, attacks on mosques and vehicles, and the destruction of agricultural land. Palestinian communities have also faced restrictions on accessing farmland, displacement and the expansion of Israeli settlements.
On Friday, the Israeli military said two Palestinians had been killed during an exchange of gunfire with Israeli forces. The military alleged that the two men had fired at Israeli settlers in Hebron, injuring five people.
Following the reported shooting, Israeli authorities announced a complete closure of Hebron and several neighbouring towns on Friday. The restrictions remained in place as military operations continued into Saturday.
The ongoing blockade and arrests have added to concerns about movement restrictions and the impact of military operations on Palestinian residents throughout the occupied West Bank.
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