Palestine News Today: Hebron Locked Down as Israel Wages Mass Punishment Across West Bank
24 October 2026. Israeli forces have sealed off Hebron and surrounding villages, demolishing homes and expelling residents in what rights groups call collective punishment after a checkpoint shooting. The crackdown comes as Gaza's fragile ceasefire is again shattered by deadly strikes, and as international pressure mounts over West Bank closures just days before Israeli elections.
Italy Demands Freedom for Five Women Held in West Bank
Italy's foreign minister called the Israeli military detention of five Italian women in the West Bank unacceptable, according to Anadolu Agency. He said the women had committed no crime and pressed for their immediate release.
Sources: Anadolu Agency
Israeli Forces Demolish Hebron District, Expel Hundreds
Israeli troops flattened a Hebron neighborhood and drove out hundreds of families in retaliation for an attack on an army checkpoint that Israel says killed two soldiers, The Guardian reports. Local Palestinian authorities told the outlet that roughly 35 hectares were destroyed or marked for demolition and about 1,500 people lost their homes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy the area, and Al Jazeera notes his government ordered a broader, days-long military operation involving raids across the city.
Sources: The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Middle East Monitor
Second Day of Hebron Siege Brings 19 More Arrests
The Israeli army kept Hebron and nearby villages sealed off for a second consecutive day, raiding neighborhoods and blocking roads throughout the occupied West Bank, according to Middle East Monitor and Anadolu Agency. Nineteen Palestinians were arrested as forces continued to force residents from their homes during the ongoing lockdown.
Sources: Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Agency
UN Secretary-General Alarmed by West Bank Closures
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was deeply concerned about the sweeping closures imposed on the occupied West Bank following the deadly Hebron attack, UN News reports. A UN spokesperson said the organization was extremely alarmed by the intensifying violence spreading across Palestinian territory.
Sources: Anadolu Agency, UN News
Switzerland Calls for Restraint as Tensions Escalate
Switzerland expressed concern over calls for violence and escalation in the occupied West Bank, urging Israel to protect civilians and guarantee access to essential services and humanitarian aid, Anadolu Agency reports. The statement came amid warnings that Israel could move to close off the entire West Bank.
Sources: Anadolu Agency
Hunger Deepens for West Bank Families After Aid Cut in Half
Palestinians already displaced by Israeli military operations in the West Bank are facing worsening hunger after the UN's World Food Programme halved its food assistance, according to Al Jazeera. Families who lost their homes now struggle to secure basic meals as humanitarian support shrinks.
Sources: Al Jazeera
More Palestinians Killed in Gaza Despite Ceasefire Deal
Israeli attacks killed three Palestinians and wounded others in Gaza on Friday, Middle East Monitor reports, with strikes hitting areas including the Nuseirat camp near Deir al-Balah. Anadolu Agency reports two more Palestinians, including a woman, were killed and four others wounded in further ceasefire violations, according to medical sources.
Sources: Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Agency
Amnesty Warns Elections Must Not Bury Accountability Push
Amnesty International cautioned that Israel's approaching general election must not distract from pursuing accountability for international crimes committed against Palestinians, Middle East Monitor reports. The warning comes as campaigning intensifies ahead of the vote.
Sources: Middle East Monitor
Settler Gun Access Widened Across West Bank Communities
Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expanded firearm license eligibility to residents of 11 West Bank settlements, a move Middle East Monitor reports drew condemnation from Hamas. The expansion comes amid a surge in settler presence in Palestinian farming areas, including incidents where Israeli forces and settlers blocked Palestinians from harvesting olives.
Sources: Middle East Monitor
Palestine News is published every day on Free Palestine Store. Each item recaps reporting from the named outlets in our own words; follow the source links for full coverage.
