Hebron (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - The Israeli army announced Monday its withdrawal from Hebron in the south of the occupied West Bank after a military operation it launched about ten days ago following an attack carried out by two Palestinians that led to the killing of two Israeli soldiers, according to what a military official said.
Published on: 02/11/2026 - 10:57
The military operation led to the evacuation of the Deir Baha neighborhood, which was inhabited by the two perpetrators, and a second neighborhood, which led to the displacement of more than three thousand people.
On Monday, an Agence France-Presse correspondent monitored the return of residents to their homes after the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The official added, "This morning, after completing all field activities, the soldiers withdrew from the military campaign area in Hebron, and activities aimed at combating terrorism will continue throughout the West Bank."
On October 23, two Palestinian gunmen carried out an attack at an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron, which led to the death of two Israeli soldiers.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the time, vowed to carry out a massive military operation in retaliation.
The day after the attack, the Israeli army evacuated the neighborhood where the two perpetrators were staying, and at least 3,189 people were displaced, including 200 infants, according to what the city municipality said at the time.
According to the military official, "The soldiers carried out careful searches in several locations, arrested suspects and subjected them to investigation. They also found and confiscated four weapons, along with a number of jackets and additional military equipment."
He added that the forces demolished the homes of the perpetrators of the attack, and "closed an underground space located next to one of the two homes."
Muhannad Al-Tamimi (33 years old), who returned to his home on Monday morning, said, "This is our house. The house is broken."
Al-Tamimi recalled the day of the attack and how “soldiers stormed my house, blew up the door, and a unit of 25-26 soldiers entered. They beat me, put a gun to my wife’s head, and terrified my children.”
The operation in Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank, caused a dispute between the army chief of staff and the political leadership over its duration.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported at the time that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir called, during an assessment of the situation, for the operation to end by last Sunday after the completion of inspections, but Netanyahu insisted on its continuation.
© 2026 AFP
The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.
