The Israeli military has imposed significant restrictions on movement in the West Bank, ahead of the country's upcoming elections. This operation is in response to a gun attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others in the West Bank city of Hebron.
What happened
The restrictions have resulted in the displacement of hundreds of Palestinians, with over 2,700 people displaced from their homes in Hebron, including hundreds of children. The city's entrances and exits have been sealed, and a blockade has affected every aspect of life, according to Hebron Mayor Yousef Zuhair Al-Jabari.
The Israeli military has operated in over 400 locations, arresting 40 Palestinians claimed to be affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Additionally, most Palestinian workers with permits will not be allowed to enter Israeli settlements for work, and crossings into Israel will remain closed until after the elections.
The elections are seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and security policies. This year, six Israelis have been killed in attacks in the West Bank, while 112 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Netanyahu has vowed to respond forcefully to the attack, stating that he will "act to destroy this place." The West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Mideast war, is home to roughly 3 million Palestinians and 540,000 Israeli settlers, with Hebron being one of the most tense cities.
