The Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service announced early this morning the launch of a military operation in Hebron and large areas of the West Bank following an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers in the city on Friday.
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The Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service announced in a joint statement the launch of the military operation, following an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers in the city of Hebron on Friday.
The operation coincides with raids in the city of Nablus, widespread closures and restrictions on the movement of Palestinians.
According to the statement, the operation targets the area from which the attackers originated and includes house searches, weapons searches, and the questioning of suspects. It is expected to last several days. The two agencies described the operation as "geographically limited" and targeting "terrorist infrastructure."
The army allowed residents to leave areas where its forces were active through three designated exit points, after security checks and questioning. Those suspected of wrongdoing were to be referred to security services for further investigation. A security cordon was also imposed on Hebron and Halhul, and roadblocks were set up.
The army announced that two soldiers were killed and others were wounded in the attack, and that the perpetrators were killed. It said it was carrying out security operations in dozens of locations in the West Bank.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to evacuate neighborhoods in Hebron from which he said the attackers had launched their attack, in preparation for searching them. He did not specify which neighborhoods, their population, or when the evacuation would take place. Reports indicated that he hinted at the possibility of a wider operation across the West Bank.
Local security sources reported that Israeli forces, reinforced with armored vehicles and bulldozers, stormed neighborhoods and areas in Hebron, including Deir Baha, the Al-Jalda roundabout, and the town of Nimra, and began raiding and searching homes. They added that the forces closed the main and secondary roads leading into the city.
Educational institutions in Hebron Governorate, including universities and schools, announced the suspension of classes tomorrow, while the Transportation and Communications Syndicate issued a statement calling for the disruption of vehicle traffic tomorrow, warning that the heavy military presence and sudden checkpoints endanger civilians, and described the measures as "collective punishment".
In the north, dozens of military vehicles stormed the city of Nablus last night and took up positions in its neighborhoods, and raided a number of homes.
Observers and local sources expressed concerns that the operation would go beyond routine inspections to impose a new security reality on the population, and spoke of humanitarian repercussions and a violation of international humanitarian law.