The Israeli military siege imposed on Hebron and large areas surrounding it entered its ninth day on Saturday, amid ongoing raids, arrests, and road closures. The humanitarian, economic, and educational repercussions have worsened, further burdening Palestinians. There are growing fears that the military measures will become a long-term reality, threatening the stability of the city and the very existence of its residents in the targeted areas.
The crisis continues, with thousands of Palestinians displaced from their homes, commercial activity disrupted, and tens of thousands of students deprived of in-person education. Meanwhile, besieged families face increasing difficulties in accessing basic necessities, amidst severe restrictions on the movement of residents and aid workers.
Published field data reveals the widening scope of the crisis. The number of Palestinians forced to leave their homes or directly affected by the siege has reached approximately 5,000. Occupation forces have closed 10 main entrances to the city, and commercial activity has declined by 80%, according to an analysis published by Al Jazeera Net’s Data Journalism Unit.
These figures do not appear to be mere indicators of a passing military operation, but rather reflect an accelerating transformation in the daily life of a city that is one of the largest population and economic centers in the West Bank, and places its residents before a reality that goes beyond the declared security restrictions to a threat to the foundations of social and economic stability.
