Five Palestinians wounded in Israeli army operation in West Bank's Hebron

Five Palestinian civilians were injured and taken to a hospital in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on Wednesday after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers, Palestinian medical sources reported. The incident occurred during a continuing Israeli military operation that also saw a brief respite in a curfew, leading to desperate crowds stocking up on food.

Assault during ongoing military incursion

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that its crews transported five individuals to a local hospital following an assault by Israeli forces. The violence took place in the Jabal Jawhar area of Hebron, which has been the focus of a multi-day Israeli military operation involving army units, the Shin Bet security agency, and Border Police forces. The Israeli military stated the operation, launched on Monday, was prompted by security assessments citing a recent rise in armed activity and clan-based violence.

Brief curfew lift triggers rush for supplies

Amid the ongoing operation, Israeli forces partially lifted a strict curfew that had been imposed since early Monday. For approximately three hours on Wednesday, soldiers withdrew from some neighborhoods, allowing shops to reopen. This prompted thousands of Palestinian residents in southern Hebron to surge into the streets, rushing to purchase food and basic supplies before the curfew was reimposed. Witnesses described scenes of residents hurriedly restocking essential goods during the temporary window.

Broader context of West Bank violence

The operation is concentrated in the H2 sector of Hebron, which remains under full Israeli military control according to the 1997 Hebron Protocol. The area encompasses neighborhoods around the Old City and the Ibrahimi Mosque. This latest incident adds to a devastating toll in the West Bank. Since October 2023, Palestinian authorities report that over 1,100 Palestinians have been killed, nearly 11,000 injured, and 21,000 detained by Israeli forces and settlers. The violence persists despite a landmark International Court of Justice opinion last July, which declared Israel's occupation illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements. Türkiye continues to advocate for an end to the violence and a just, lasting peace based on a two-state solution.