Israeli Army Ends Hebron Operation and Withdraws from City

The Israeli army announced on Monday that it had withdrawn from Hebron, in the south of the occupied West Bank, ending a military operation it had launched about ten days earlier. The operation followed an October 23 attack by two Palestinian gunmen at an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron, which AFP reported killed two Israeli soldiers. According to AFP, the two attackers were killed in an exchange of gunfire.

The attack was followed immediately by the demolition of buildings around the checkpoint. AFP reported that Israeli officials, including then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed a large-scale military operation in retaliation. The Israeli army evacuated the Deir Bahah neighborhood, where the two attackers lived, along with a second neighborhood. AFP reported that no fewer than 3,189 people were displaced, including 200 infants, according to the Hebron city municipality at the time.

A military official told AFP that the soldiers “carried out thorough searches at several locations, arrested suspects and interrogated them,” and found and confiscated four weapons, several vests and other military equipment. The official said the forces demolished the homes of the two attackers, a measure Israeli forces adopt in response to attacks, and “sealed an underground space adjacent to one of the two homes.” The official said that “activities aimed at combating terrorism will continue throughout” the West Bank, which he called “Judea and Samaria.”

An AFP correspondent observed residents returning to their homes on Monday after the Israeli forces withdrew. Many homes appeared to be in disarray after soldiers searched them, and black “X”-shaped marks sprayed with paint were visible on many buildings. Mohammed Jaabeh, a relative of one of the attackers, said the upper floor of the family home had been destroyed and that the family intended to return to live on the lower floors. Muhannad al-Tamimi, 33, who returned to his home on Monday morning, said, “This is our home, the house is smashed.” He said soldiers had occupied his home since the operation began and that he found furniture and clothing scattered and a child’s bicycle broken.

Al-Tamimi described the start of the operation, saying that “soldiers stormed my home and blew up the door, and a unit of 25-26 soldiers entered.” He said the soldiers beat him, put a weapon to his wife’s head, terrified his children, and kicked his young daughter. He also accused the soldiers of stealing gold and money. In response to a request for comment, the army said it is looking into these allegations. Hebron municipal council member Reem al-Sharif told AFP that municipal workers were helping with cleaning efforts in the area and confirmed that the operation affected two neighborhoods.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)