In brief
After a shooting that killed two soldiers triggered a 10‑day military operation, Israeli troops left the West Bank city of Hebron on Monday. The operation, which began on Oct. 23, involved the evacuation of Palestinian families, demolition of homes, and wide‑area restrictions. Residents are now returning while the military reports weapons seized, houses of attackers demolished, and dozens of suspects detained.
Israeli troops were withdrawn from the West Bank city of Hebron on Monday, ending a 10‑day operation that began after a shooting that killed two soldiers.
The operation launched on Oct. 23 following an incident in which two Israeli soldiers were killed in the city. According to the Israeli military, the attack was carried out by Palestinians, prompting a swift response from the armed forces.
During the operation, the army carried out a systematic evacuation of Palestinian families from the city. Those families were relocated and remained outside the immediate dwelling areas while the operation continued.
In addition to evacuations, the military demolished homes that were linked to the attackers. The demolitions were carried out as a measure to remove the residences of the two Palestinian shooters who had killed the soldiers.
The operation also saw widespread closures of streets and public facilities in Hebron. Residents and visitors found that many roads were blocked and access to several parts of the city was effectively suspended.
On Monday, residents who had been displaced began returning to the homes they had left behind. Some families were welcomed back while others found their original dwellings had been destroyed or heavily damaged.
A spokesperson for the army stated that during the operation the forces seized four weapons, demolished the homes of the two Palestinian attackers, and detained dozens of suspects who were then taken into custody.
The decision to pull out was made by Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday night. The military had requested an earlier end to the operation, but the political leadership chose to continue until after the last parliamentary election.
The end of the operation marks a brief pause in the ongoing conflict in the region. Residents and their families are now attempting to rebuild after months of military presence and restrictions.