Israeli forces have entered parts of Hebron in the occupied West Bank and displaced up to 250 Palestinian families after two Israeli soldiers were killed at a checkpoint. The operation, announced days before Israel’s general election, has prompted accusations from local Palestinian officials that civilians are being subjected to collective punishment.
The Israeli military said it was carrying out “precise, targeted and thorough searches” in the area associated with the two Palestinian gunmen, who were killed during a gunfight. It said the operation would continue for several days.
What happened in Hebron?
Military forces moved into the Ein Dir Baha neighbourhood, where residents reported that buildings had been marked to show they had been cleared. Streets were largely deserted apart from Israeli military vehicles, while access for vehicles into and out of Hebron was restricted.
Local officials gave different estimates of the number of affected families. The governor of Hebron said around 150 families had been displaced, while the city’s mayor and a local activist put the figure at approximately 250. The families were reportedly forced to leave, in some cases during the night.
The mayor said the city would provide shelter and assistance to those affected. Local authorities also reported that taxis and other vehicles had accumulated near military-controlled gates, with Palestinians forced to cross on foot.
Why has Israel launched the operation?
The action followed the killing of two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint near Hebron on Friday. Other soldiers were reportedly wounded. The Israeli military said its searches were focused on the area from which the attackers had operated.
Hebron is one of the most sensitive locations in the West Bank. Israeli settlers live in and around the city alongside a large Palestinian population, and movement is already restricted by checkpoints, road closures and military controls.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was preparing an operation on a scale not seen since the country’s occupation of the West Bank began in 1967. The statement signalled the possibility that the security measures could extend beyond the initial neighbourhood.
Local officials warn of wider restrictions
Hebron’s governor said about one-third of the city had been targeted and warned that the operation could expand. He described the displacement of families with no direct connection to the attack as collective punishment, a claim that reflects the central dispute over the legality and proportionality of the measures.
Israel has not said that all residents affected by the restrictions were linked to the attack. The military has described its actions as targeted searches rather than a general operation against the city’s population.
Political pressure before Israel’s election
The operation is taking place shortly before Israel’s general election on Tuesday. Netanyahu is facing a close contest with an opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
Security policy and the future of the West Bank are major issues in the campaign. Netanyahu’s national security adviser, Itamar Ben Gvir, has called for the Palestinian Authority to be dismantled. The authority administers parts of the West Bank under arrangements created by the 1990s peace process.
When asked whether he supported dismantling the Palestinian Authority, Netanyahu highlighted his opposition to international pressure to establish a Palestinian state. Eisenkot also opposes Palestinian statehood, according to the source report, but has pledged to take stronger action against settler violence.
Rising settler violence adds to tensions
The Hebron operation comes amid heightened violence affecting Palestinian communities across the West Bank. Israeli rights organisation Yesh Din reported 672 incidents of settler violence during the previous 26 days, with nearly half connected to the olive harvest.
The annual harvest has deep cultural and economic significance for Palestinians. Rights groups have reported that extremist settlers have sought to prevent or disrupt access to olive groves, increasing tensions during an already volatile period.
The reported incidents and the Hebron lockdown have intensified concerns about civilian protection, freedom of movement and accountability for attacks by both armed groups and settlers.
What happens next?
The Israeli military said the searches would last several days, but it did not provide a final timetable for lifting the restrictions. The immediate next steps are likely to depend on security assessments, the investigation into the checkpoint attack and political decisions made before and after the election.
- Israeli forces are expected to continue searches in areas linked to the attackers.
- Access restrictions and vehicle closures may remain in place during the operation.
- Local officials say displaced families will need emergency shelter and assistance.
- Further expansion of the operation remains possible, according to Hebron’s governor.
The situation also places renewed attention on the responsibilities of all parties under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and the prohibition of attacks on non-combatants. Any legal assessment of the measures would require examination of the specific orders, their justification and how they are implemented.
Conclusion
The Hebron lockdown is a significant escalation in the occupied West Bank, combining a military search operation with the displacement of Palestinian families and broad restrictions on movement. Israel says the measures are aimed at those responsible for killing its soldiers, while Palestinian officials argue that civilians are being punished collectively. The duration and scope of the operation, alongside the outcome of Israel’s election, will determine whether the crisis remains localised or develops into a wider confrontation.