Israel launches major West Bank operation after soldiers killed

On Friday, Israel initiated demolitions and the evacuation of residents from a neighborhood in the West Bank city of Hebron, following a shooting attack that left two Israeli soldiers dead and two others lightly wounded. The Palestinian gunmen targeted an Israeli military checkpoint, sparking the incident. This action came just four days before Israel's elections, which first took place since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) declared a "full siege" on Hebron and Netanyahu ordered a full closure of the West Bank, though he later suggested a "cordon" around Hebron and Halhul, potentially extending to other areas. Netanyahu also stated that the military would forcefully evacuate the attack site and transform it, employing the same method used in Jenin, Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and Al-Fara refugee camps in early 2025, resulting in the displacement of thousands of Palestinians.

Israeli authorities initiated a counterterrorism operation in Hebron, searching and dismantling terrorist infrastructure, questioning suspects, and evacuating residents through designated exit points. The demolitions began in the Farsh al-Hawa area of Hebron, with Israeli forces telling residents to leave within five minutes. The IDF identified a vehicle carrying the attackers, filled with a significant amount of ammunition, emphasizing the seriousness of the attack.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated that the terrorists' swift actions prevented a larger attack and further civilian casualties. Netanyahu vowed to pursue Hamas terrorists and their supporters, expressing his intent to empty the Palestinian neighborhood in Hebron, mirroring the mass displacement seen in the northern West Bank refugee camps.