Israel Displaces Hundreds of Palestinian Families in Hebron After Soldier Deaths

Israeli forces carried out a major security operation in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday, one day after two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others at a military checkpoint near the city. Both gunmen were killed during the exchange of fire on Friday. The Israeli military said the operation was aimed at locating militants and weapons in the area where the attackers had operated, describing its actions as "precise, targeted and thorough searches" expected to continue for several days.

The operation displaced hundreds of Palestinian residents. Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari and local activist Issa Amro estimated that approximately 250 families had been forced to leave their homes, while Governor Khaled Dudin put the figure at 150 families. In the Ein Dir Baha neighbourhood, Israeli troops marked cleared buildings with X symbols. Streets were largely deserted, with military vehicles patrolling the area. Vehicle access to Hebron was restricted, with gates at city entrances closed to traffic and Palestinians crossing checkpoints on foot.

Governor Dudin condemned the scale of the operation as collective punishment of civilians with no involvement in the attack. Local authorities said they were working to provide temporary shelter and assistance to displaced families.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the operation and pledged a strong response, signalling further measures could follow. The events unfolded just days before Israel's general election on Tuesday, with Netanyahu facing a closely contested race against an opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.