The Israeli military has launched a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, deploying hundreds of soldiers, armoured vehicles, and bulldozers in what officials describe as a counterterrorism raid. The operation has led to a near-total lockdown of southern Hebron, severely disrupting daily life for tens of thousands of Palestinians.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the Israeli army and the Shin Bet internal security agency confirmed the operation, saying it was aimed at dismantling what they described as “terror infrastructure” and seizing weapons in the Jebel Johar area of the city. Israeli officials warned the raid could last several days.
Heavy Military Deployment Paralyzes Southern Hebron
According to witnesses and local journalists, Israeli forces entered Hebron before dawn, sealing off entire neighbourhoods and imposing a strict curfew. Roads were blocked with cement barriers, earth mounds, and newly installed iron gates, preventing movement in and out of key districts.
Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Montaser Nassar, reporting from Hebron, described the situation as a state of full lockdown.
“The southern region of Hebron has been under curfew since early morning,” Nassar said. “There is an intensive deployment of occupation forces, including bulldozers and tracked armoured vehicles.”
The presence of tracked armoured vehicles has drawn particular attention, as such equipment has rarely been used in Hebron since the Second Intifada in the early 2000s.
“The last time we saw this kind of military hardware in Hebron was during Operation Defensive Shield,” Nassar added, referring to Israel’s 2002 offensive across the West Bank.
New Iron Gates Raise Fears of Permanent Fragmentation
While Israeli authorities framed the raid as a temporary security operation, Palestinians on the ground expressed concern that the measures signal a long-term tightening of Israeli control over Hebron.
Video footage verified by local sources showed Israeli forces installing new metal gates and roadblocks, including at the Tariq bin Ziyad roundabout, effectively sealing off neighbourhoods from one another.
“This is the dangerous part,” Nassar warned. “It appears to be a prelude to dividing an already divided city.”
Hebron is already uniquely fragmented under Israeli military rule, with parts of the city under direct Israeli control despite being located deep inside the occupied West Bank.
Arrests Reported as Israeli Forces Conduct House Raids
Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli soldiers carried out house-to-house raids, arresting at least seven Palestinians during the operation. Residents reported searches, property damage, and prolonged confinement indoors as troops moved through residential areas.
Israeli forces have not released details about those detained or any weapons seized so far.
Raid Takes Place Near Ibrahimi Mosque Amid Rising Tensions
The military operation is unfolding less than 500 metres from the Ibrahimi Mosque, a flashpoint religious site revered by both Muslims and Jews and a long-standing source of tension in Hebron.
The raid follows recent Israeli decisions that curtail Palestinian administrative authority over the mosque, including a move to ban the mosque’s Palestinian director for 15 days and transfer management responsibilities to the Israeli Civil Administration.
Observers warn that these steps could further inflame tensions in a city already marked by a heavy Israeli military presence and nearby Israeli settlements.
Part of Wider Escalation Across the Occupied West Bank
The Hebron raid comes amid a sharp escalation of Israeli military operations across the occupied West Bank, particularly since the outbreak of the war on Gaza in October 2023.
According to Palestinian official figures:
- More than 1,080 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank
- Approximately 11,000 have been injured
- Around 20,500 Palestinians have been arrested
Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about collective punishment, prolonged curfews, and the use of excessive force during Israeli raids.
Hebron: A City Under Constant Pressure
Hebron, one of the largest Palestinian cities in the West Bank, has long been a focal point of Israeli-Palestinian tension. Several hundred Israeli settlers live in fortified enclaves inside the city, protected by thousands of Israeli soldiers, leading to:
- Frequent checkpoints
- Movement restrictions
- Recurrent military raids
Palestinian residents say the latest operation has deepened fears of permanent spatial fragmentation, economic paralysis, and further erosion of daily life.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Location: Hebron, southern occupied West Bank
- Operation: Large-scale Israeli military raid
- Forces involved: Hundreds of soldiers, armoured vehicles, bulldozers
- Measures imposed: Curfew, road closures, iron gates
- Arrests reported: At least seven Palestinians
- Duration: Expected to last several days
Conclusion: Lockdown Signals Deeper Control, Not Temporary Measures
While Israel describes the Hebron operation as a counterterrorism effort, the scale of the deployment and installation of permanent barriers have heightened Palestinian fears that the raid marks a new phase of long-term control rather than a short-term security measure.
As the operation continues, attention will remain focused on its humanitarian impact, the fate of detainees, and whether the lockdown will evolve into lasting changes to Hebron’s already fragmented landscape.
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