Israel displaces 250 families in Hebron after deadly attack

Israeli forces have displaced around 250 Palestinian families in Hebron during a major security operation launched after two soldiers were killed at a checkpoint near the West Bank city. The military said the operation aims to locate militants and weapons in the area where Friday’s attackers operated, and it is expected to continue for several days.

Operation focuses on neighbourhoods linked to attack

On Friday, two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others before being killed in an exchange of fire. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a large-scale military response, saying forces would conduct an extensive operation in Hebron. The military described the operation as “precise, targeted and thorough searches” focused on the area from which the attackers came.

Residents leaving affected neighbourhoods were directed through designated exit points and subjected to security checks. In the Ein Dir Baha neighbourhood, troops marked buildings with X symbols after clearing them of residents. Streets were largely deserted as military vehicles patrolled. Local officials said the operation affected about one-third of the city.

Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin criticised the scale of the operation, saying civilians not involved in the shooting were being affected. “This amounts to collective punishment being imposed on civilians who have nothing at all to do with this,” he said. Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari put the number of displaced families at around 250, while Dudin said it was 150. “We will find them shelter and provide these people with all the help they need,” al-Jaabari said.

Israeli forces restricted vehicle access to Hebron, closing gates at city entrances to traffic. Palestinians were seen crossing checkpoints on foot. The operation comes days before Israel’s general election on Tuesday, where Netanyahu faces a closely contested race against an opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. The government’s security policies in the West Bank are a major issue in the campaign.