West Bank violence surges as Hebron blockade hits week two

Israeli military operations in Hebron entered their eighth day on Friday, with troops maintaining a tight seal on the al-Jalda and Deir Bahha neighborhoods. Soldiers fired tear gas and stun grenades at displaced residents attempting to return to their homes. The escalation coincided with widespread settler activity across the occupied West Bank, including assaults on agricultural workers and the initiation of a new outpost.

In the village of Tel Rumeida near Hebron, settlers attacked a family harvesting olives, injuring five members. The violence extended to other regions, where pickers in Beita, south of Nablus, came under attack. In Burqa, east of Ramallah, settlers damaged olive trees. Wafa, the Palestinian news agency, reported these incidents as part of a pattern of friction that intensified during the military operation.

Military forces in Hebron demolished houses they identified as belonging to two Palestinian gunmen involved in an October 23 checkpoint attack that killed two Israeli soldiers. According to Wafa, more than 115 Palestinians have been detained since the operation began. A total of 780 families have been affected, with 537 families fully displaced from their homes.

The blockade has disrupted daily life for approximately 5,000 people who remain besieged in their homes or have been forced out. Educational institutions have borne the brunt of the disruption, with in-person classes suspended at 66 schools. This suspension affects 2,872 students in the Hebron area.

Settlers also began constructing a new outpost on Palestinian land located between Ni'lin and Qibya, west of Ramallah. Additional property damage was reported in Jaba, south of Jenin, and al-Masudiya, northwest of Nablus. The Israeli army closed the main eastern entrance to Qalqilya on Friday evening, further restricting movement in the region.