IDF on high alert in Hebron as 20,000 Israelis expected for Shabbat amid terror attack fears

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Police, Shin Bet, and Border Police are on high alert in Hebron as preparations intensify for Shabbat Chayei Sarah events. Authorities predict around 20,000 Israelis will converge on the city, including the Cave of the Patriarchs and the Jewish community, over the coming hours. The Paratroopers Brigade's 101st Battalion is leading the charge in protecting the Jewish community, supported by additional troops in the area.

Security preparations encompass a broad spectrum of contingencies, such as lone assailant attacks, threats from organized terrorist groups planning assaults during Shabbat, and potential localized conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians.

Ahead of the gathering, security agencies conducted an extensive, multi-agency exercise on Thursday to evaluate their readiness and address lessons from previous operations. The drill involved IDF troops, Israel Police, Border Police, Magen David Adom, and Fire and Rescue Services, all working in tandem on various scenarios across Hebron, Kiryat Arba, and the southern Hebron Hills. These simulations were conducted with input from security representatives from both the Jewish community and Kiryat Arba.

The heightened security situation is a response to ongoing tensions in Hebron, particularly regarding the retention of IDF forces in Palestinian neighborhoods. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have resisted moving troops out of the neighborhoods, despite some military officials advocating for the withdrawal.

This decision was temporarily halted until after Shabbat Chayei Sarah, when the anticipated influx of 20,000 Israelis is expected. The conflict began following a shooting incident at Yehuda Junction, which claimed the lives of two Israeli soldiers.