Israeli Forces Raid Hebron, Force Palestinian Shops to Close

Israeli forces raided Hebron’s Old City in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, forcing Palestinian shopkeepers to close their businesses and restricting residents’ movement.

According to local reports, soldiers sealed off parts of the Old City and limited Palestinian access to facilitate the entry of Israeli settlers. They also prevented journalists from filming the raid and ordered them to leave the area.

The incident comes amid a wider escalation of Israeli military and settler attacks across the occupied West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Palestinian figures say more than 1,183 Palestinians have been killed, around 13,000 injured and nearly 25,000 arrested during this period.

Palestinians have warned that the continuing escalation is aimed at creating facts on the ground that could facilitate the annexation of the West Bank and undermine prospects for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.