Late Friday, the Israeli military announced that it had launched a major raid in Hebron in the West Bank. Extensive blockades have been reported in several places, and people are being forced to leave their homes ahead of Israeli demolitions. According to AFP, around 250 families have been forced to leave, some in the middle of the night. Al Jazeera puts the figure at around 300.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Saturday evening that around 2,000 people had so far been forced to leave Hebron, AFP reports.
The Israeli military says it has "arrested around 40 suspects, including terrorists with links to the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as people suspected of incitement, disorderly conduct and stone throwing."
Election coming soon
The operation is expected to last for several days. According to Al Jazeera, raids are also taking place in Nablus and elsewhere.
"This is collective punishment against civilians who have nothing to do with it," Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin told AFP, referring to Friday's shooting.
Two Israeli soldiers were shot dead near Hebron by two suspected Palestinian assailants, who were then shot dead by the military. Three more Israeli soldiers were wounded in the attack.
The shooting occurred just days before the country goes to the polls for the first time since the October 7, 2023, attack. Tuesday's election is seen as a crucial test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has portrayed himself as Israel's foremost protector.
The operation in the West Bank is happening solely because Netanyahu wants to win the election, Hebron store owner Higazi Shawer al-Tamimi claims.
An hour after midnight, the military knocked on his door and ordered him to leave.
"He wants to win with the help of the blood of the Palestinian people. But we are not going anywhere," the 70-year-old told AFP.
Netanyahu warns
In an interview with Israeli channel i24, Netanyahu said that a "big surprise" awaited the Palestinian Authority, which has limited self-rule in the West Bank.
After Friday's attack, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the agency to be disbanded. However, there is no indication that it was involved in the shooting near Hebron.
The agency says it is mobilizing its diplomats to secure "urgent international action that goes beyond condemnation" to prevent forced displacement, AFP reports.
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