Israel Expands West Bank Raids as Hebron Lockdown Hits Day Six

The military campaign in the occupied West Bank has entered its sixth day of intensified operations. Israeli forces continued raids in Hebron and surrounding areas on Wednesday, according to Anadolu news agency.

Troops tightened security restrictions at city entrances and conducted a midnight search of the Fawwar refugee camp south of Hebron. They entered several Palestinian homes during the operation.

In Tulkarem, Wafa news agency reported that soldiers detained four Palestinians. The group included a journalist, his two brothers, and an officer from the Palestinian General Intelligence Service.

Violence extended to the Nablus area, where troops fired tear gas at protesters in Beita. The demonstrators were opposing the demolition of two homes linked to the families of two Palestinian prisoners. In Yasid, a man sustained hand fractures after being beaten by forces during an attack on the village. In Burin, troops raided residences and converted several into military barracks, while schools in southern Nablus shifted to remote learning to protect students and staff.

UNRWA director Roland Friedrich described the situation in Hebron as a near-total lockdown that severely limits movement and access to services. He noted that the current displacement of nearly 5,000 people mirrors the massive eviction of over 34,000 refugees from Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams camps in early 2025.

The operations follow the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint last week. Israeli forces later killed the gunmen. Palestinian officials say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using the campaign to secure settler votes ahead of Tuesday’s Israeli elections.