Why Israel’s latest assault on Hebron is so significant for the West Bank

Key Points:

• Israeli forces have conducted raids and imposed a lockdown on Hebron, detaining at least 47 Palestinians and forcibly displacing around 2,500 residents, converting some homes into military posts following a deadly shooting attack on soldiers.
• The military operation includes demolitions and forced evictions in the Ein Deir Bahha neighborhood, uprooting nearly 500 Palestinian families and is described by human rights experts as collective punishment and ethnic cleansing.
• Hebron is a vital economic hub for Palestinians, producing 40% of industrial output and 30% of exports, but Israeli restrictions and military actions have severely disrupted trade, increased production costs, and threatened the broader West Bank economy.
• The presence of hundreds of Israeli settlers in Hebron's Old City and the enforcement of closed zones under the 1997 Hebron Protocol have restricted Palestinian movement and commerce, with many shops shuttered and daily life heavily impacted.
• The Ibrahimi Mosque, a significant religious site for Muslims and Jews, remains a flashpoint of tension, with Israeli authorities recently seizing planning control over the mosque area, further limiting Palestinian municipal authority and access.