Hebron remains under siege as economic impact mounts
Israeli forces are maintaining a lockdown on Hebron for the tenth day, with officials warning of a potential expansion of military operations and further displacement of Palestinian residents.
The restrictions were implemented following an October 23 attack near Hebron that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers.
According to the Hebron municipality, over 3,300 Palestinians have been displaced or affected by the siege, experiencing property destruction and business closures.
Mayor Yousef al-Jabari told Al Jazeera that the daily economic losses are estimated to surpass 12 million shekels ($3.8 million), alongside $1.9 million in infrastructure damage and $160,000 in losses within the health and environmental sectors.
Al-Jabari stated that Israeli forces have demolished 15 homes and structures, forcing 327 businesses to cease operations, and preventing approximately 80,000 students from attending school.
The mayor characterized the siege as “collective punishment,” noting that Hebron contributes roughly 40 percent to the Palestinian economy.
Palestinian families are concerned about potential escalation of military actions.
Israeli security forces continued to detain Palestinians in Hebron and other West Bank cities on Sunday. Ten Palestinian teachers were arrested in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, and their vehicle was confiscated, according to Wafa news agency.
Video footage verified by Al Jazeera showed Israeli military personnel raiding a United Nations-run school in the Shufat refugee camp in East Jerusalem.
The United Nations humanitarian office, OCHA, reported that Israeli settlers conducted 397 attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank throughout October, marking the highest monthly figure since records began in 2006, as reported by Wafa.
Between October 20 and 26, settler attacks targeted 49 Palestinian communities, primarily during olive harvesting season. A total of 57 Palestinians, including nine children, sustained injuries – 34 from military gunfire and physical assaults, and 23 from settler attacks.
Since 2015, Israeli authorities have issued 9,518 demolition or stop-work notices concerning Palestinian property in the occupied West Bank, according to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, with 344 of those notices issued in the first nine months of the current year.
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“Hebron siege continues for 10th day as Israel threatens wider offensive”
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