HEBRON, West Bank — Israeli forces have continued a major military operation across the occupied West Bank, imposing movement restrictions, conducting arrests and demolishing buildings following a shooting attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others in Hebron.
The operation intensified as Israel approached its October 27, 2026, general election, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government promising a forceful response to the attack. The military campaign has displaced thousands of Palestinians and disrupted daily life in parts of Hebron.
Israeli Forces Intensify Operations in Hebron
The military operation has focused heavily on Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank and the location of the shooting that triggered the latest crackdown.
Israeli troops sealed off parts of the city, closed checkpoints and restricted Palestinian movement. The military also ordered residents in Deir Bahha, the neighborhood associated with the suspected attackers, to evacuate as troops carried out searches.
According to the Israeli military, forces searched more than 400 locations over the weekend and arrested 40 Palestinians suspected of having links to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society separately reported more than 70 arrests across the West Bank on Saturday.
Israeli authorities said weapons were found in the suspected attackers’ vehicle and that the men may have been planning further attacks. These claims were presented by the military as part of its justification for the operation.
Thousands of Palestinians Displaced
The operation has caused significant disruption for residents of Hebron and surrounding neighborhoods.
The Hebron municipality reported that more than 2,600 people had been displaced. Municipal officials also said nearly 500 apartments had been affected by the evacuations.
With entrances and exits restricted, residents have faced difficulties reaching workplaces, medical appointments and essential services. Businesses have been forced to close, while access to some religious facilities has also been disrupted.
Some families left their homes on foot after receiving evacuation warnings. At military checkpoints, residents were seen passing bags of flour and gas canisters through openings because vehicles were not permitted to cross.
Hebron Mayor Yousef Zuhair Al-Jabari said the restrictions had affected nearly every aspect of daily life in the city. Israeli authorities have not specified how long the operation and restrictions will continue.
Netanyahu Government Promises a Strong Response
The shooting has become a major security issue in Israel ahead of the election.
Netanyahu visited the scene of the attack and vowed to take action against those responsible. Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also called for a forceful response.
Smotrich said Palestinian buildings constructed without permits would be demolished, although he did not claim that the owners of those buildings were connected to the suspected attackers.
Analysts say the security situation has become a prominent issue in the election campaign, with political leaders emphasizing their approaches to protecting Israeli citizens and addressing attacks in the West Bank.
The election is widely viewed as an important test of Netanyahu’s leadership and his government’s handling of security during years of regional conflict. However, the effect of the military operation on voters’ decisions remains uncertain.
Rising Violence Raises Humanitarian Concerns
The latest operation comes amid continued violence in the occupied West Bank.
According to figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry cited by the Associated Press, 112 Palestinians, including the suspected attackers, and six Israelis had been killed in West Bank-related violence during 2026 as of the report’s publication.
The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East war. The territory is home to approximately three million Palestinians and hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers. Israeli settlements there are widely considered illegal under international law, a position reflected in longstanding international legal and diplomatic assessments.
The latest restrictions have renewed concerns about civilian protection, access to essential services and the consequences of collective movement restrictions during military operations.
As Israeli forces continue their campaign, residents of Hebron remain uncertain about when they will be able to return to their homes and resume normal activities.
Swifteradio.com
