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Israel launches major West Bank military operation following Hebron attack
Following a fatal shooting near Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others, the Israeli military has launched a large-scale operation across the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the campaign, describing it as an operation of a scale not seen since the 1967 Six-Day War. The military action includes house-to-house searches, the demolition of infrastructure, and the forced evacuation of residents in several neighborhoods.
In Hebron, Israeli forces have imposed a strict lockdown, sealing city entrances and restricting movement. Reports indicate that between 2,000 and 2,200 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes due to the raids and evacuations. Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the displacements, stating that residents would not be permitted to return until Hamas infrastructure in the city is dismantled. Some Palestinian homes have reportedly been repurposed by the military as barracks and observation posts.
The military operation has also involved raids in approximately 40 areas and 400 locations throughout the West Bank, resulting in the detention of approximately 40 suspects. These measures coincide with upcoming Israeli legislative elections, during which the military has announced a total closure of West Bank land crossings and restrictions on Palestinian workers entering settlements and the Jordan Valley.
Entities
Benjamin Netanyahu · Bezalel Smotrich · Donald Trump · Eyal Zamir · Firas Jaaba · Gadi Eisenkot · Hamas · Hebron · IDF · Iran · Israel · Israel Defense Forces
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Knesset consists of 120 seats.
- [● 12 SOURCES] General elections in Israel are scheduled for October 27, 2026.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack is a central theme of the election campaign.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Gadi Eisenkot leads the centrist Yashar! party.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest in 2024.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] First-time voters are reportedly shifting toward right-wing, security-focused parties.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Shas MK Yinon Azoulay warned against voter abstention.
- [● 9 SOURCES] Benjamin Netanyahu is the leader of the Likud party.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that settlement expansion threatens the two-state solution.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Gaza health authority reported more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Israel's General Staff Chief Eyal Zamir increased military alert levels.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Donald Trump has expressed public support for Benjamin Netanyahu.