Israeli forces have launched a major operation in the Palestinian city of Hebron in the West Bank following the deaths of two Israeli soldiers in a shooting attack.
This was reported by The Times of Israel.
According to the outlet, Israeli forces are conducting searches, looking for weapons and militant infrastructure, and questioning dozens of suspects. The army said the operation is focused on the area from which the attackers operated and could last several days.
Palestinian residents in the areas where the operation is being carried out will be allowed to leave via three designated points after questioning and security checks. Those who raise suspicion may be referred for additional questioning. After the attack, the Israeli authorities also restricted movement in Hebron and nearby Palestinian communities.
On Friday, two attackers opened fire on Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint on the way out of Hebron. After the shooting, the military measured the homes where the suspects lived in preparation for possible demolition.
In addition, the IDF began dismantling structures near the site of the attack which, the Israeli army said, could pose a security threat.
Video footage from the Farsh al-Hawa area near Hebron shows soldiers ordering Palestinian residents to leave their homes ahead of demolition. People’s belongings were loaded onto lorries, and the structures were knocked down by bulldozers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed officials to prepare the demolition of the entire neighbourhood where the two attackers lived. As a result, the measures may extend beyond the homes of those directly involved in the shooting.
Netanyahu also said preparations were under way for a complete closure of the West Bank on Monday and Tuesday. He said movement restrictions would be introduced as a security measure amid Israel’s national elections.
- In the West Bank, settler violence has been rising, and since the start of the year dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the territory.
- On 27 October, Israel will hold parliamentary elections — the first since 2019 and since the Hamas attacks on 7 October.