HEBRON, occupied West Bank — Israeli forces have withdrawn from the entire city of Hebron after a siege lasting more than 10 days, the city's governor, Khaled Dudin, announced on Monday. "Palestinian security forces have taken full control of the area following the Israeli withdrawal," Dudin said, adding that families who were forced to leave their homes can now return.

Source: Al Jazeera

India's ANI news agency also reported the withdrawal on Monday, citing the governor's announcement. Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari told Al Jazeera the municipality was officially informed of the withdrawal at 6am (04:00 GMT).

Source: ANI

"For the first time in 10 days, schoolchildren are going to their schools; university students are now on their way to their universities," al-Jaabari said, noting that five universities had been closed during the siege. "There was a complete closure, no entry or exit from the city, and all aspects of life, whether economic, educational, health, or even those related to municipal work, had completely stopped."

The end of a siege Awaaz Punjab has followed since October 23

The withdrawal closes a chapter this newsroom has reported day by day since it began: Israeli forces imposed the siege on October 23 after a shooting attack by two Palestinians killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others, according to Al Jazeera's reporting; Israeli forces later killed both attackers. In the days that followed, reported displacement climbed into the thousands — 4,969 people by the fifth day — as closures spread across Hebron and surrounding villages and the city marked a tenth day under siege on November 1.

During the operation, Israeli troops seized Palestinian homes in the Al-Jalda and Ein Deir Baha neighbourhoods and converted them into military posts, AnewZ reported. The Hebron Governorate said more than 3,300 Palestinians were displaced or otherwise affected, particularly in those two neighbourhoods, and homes and infrastructure were damaged during the 10 days of military activity.

Source: AnewZ

10 daysLength of the siege of Hebron
3,300+Palestinians displaced or otherwise affected, particularly in Al-Jalda and Ein Deir Baha — Hebron Governorate
5Universities closed during the siege
12M shekelsDaily economic losses reported by Hebron's mayor on October 31 (about $3.8 million)
Yaani — the money figure, in simple terms

The mayor's reported loss of 12 million shekels a day is about $3.8 million — yaani roughly 38 lakh dollars of economic loss every single day the city stayed shut.

Dudin said the relevant authorities and Palestinian security forces are monitoring developments on the ground and working to provide the conditions for residents to return safely. The reports of the withdrawal rest on statements by the governor and the mayor carried by Al Jazeera and ANI; no statement from the Israeli military confirming the withdrawal had been reported by the time of publication.