Israeli military operations escalate in Hebron following deadly attack

On October 23, 2026, two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers, aged 20 and 23, at a military checkpoint near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a large-scale counter-terrorism operation, ordering the blockade of the area and the deployment of troops to search for militants and weapons from house to house. The military has begun demolitions and forced evacuations, with the Hebron municipality reporting that over 3,189 residents, including 491 families, have been displaced from their homes as of October 26.

The operation, which the Palestinian Authority has condemned as "collective punishment," includes sweeping raids in the Al-Jaladah and Ein Deir Baha neighborhoods. Amidst the ongoing military activity and heightened security, the Israeli government has ordered a complete lockdown of the West Bank and the closure of all land crossings on October 27, the day of the country's national parliamentary elections. The situation remains volatile, with reports of settlers establishing new outposts in the Yatta area, south of Hebron, as political tensions rise ahead of the upcoming polls.