Hebron Governor Confirms Israeli Troop Withdrawal After 10-Day Siege
Palestinian security forces have assumed full control of the city, enabling displaced residents to return to their homes following a military operation that disrupted daily life for over 800,000 people.
By Layla Fontaine ·
Khaled Dudin, the governor of Hebron, confirmed on Monday that Israeli forces have withdrawn from the city in the southern occupied West Bank. The departure marks the end of a 10-day siege that halted economic, educational, and municipal activity across the region. Palestinian security forces now hold full control of the area, with authorities working to create safe conditions for residents to return home.
The military operation began on October 23 following a shooting attack by two Palestinians that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others. Israeli forces killed the two attackers and subsequently imposed a strict siege on Hebron and surrounding villages. During the closure, troops seized homes and converted them into military posts, while checkpoint blocks cut off the wider governorate, which is home to approximately 800,000 people.
Youssef al-Jaabari, the mayor of Hebron, stated that the municipality received official notification of the withdrawal at 6am local time. He noted that schoolchildren and university students have resumed travel to their campuses, reopening five universities that had been forced to close. Al-Jaabari described the previous days as a complete shutdown where no entry or exit was permitted from the city.
Within minutes of the governor’s announcement, vehicles carrying displaced families began arriving in the city. Some residents reported that soldiers had damaged the interiors of homes used as military posts, while others claimed money and personal belongings were taken. The Israeli military also destroyed the homes of the two attackers, with Civil Defence teams warning that the walls of one structure were on the verge of collapse.
The Hebron governorate reported that more than 3,300 Palestinians were displaced or affected by the siege, particularly in the areas of al-Jalda and Ein Deir Bahha. The operation forced at least 317 shops to close and displaced more than 537 families. Fifteen homes and other structures were demolished, and the local economy and infrastructure sustained damage.
Ibrahim Rabaia, a political researcher in Ramallah, described the operation as part of a collective-punishment system, noting a shift in strategy toward targeting entire urban neighborhoods. Mohamed Helles, an expert on Israeli affairs, suggested the timing was linked to the general election held last month, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc secured the most seats but failed to win a majority. Israel currently lacks a clear path to forming a new government.
