Israeli Forces Withdraw from Hebron After Ten-Day Operation Following Soldier Attack

Israeli forces withdrew from the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on the morning of 2 November after a ten-day operation. A military official stated that soldiers left the area once all operational activities were complete. Counterterrorism operations continue elsewhere in the West Bank.

The operation began on 23 October after two Palestinians opened fire at a checkpoint, killing two Israeli soldiers and wounding three others. Israeli forces later killed the attackers. The military said the gunmen were connected to a broader Hamas-linked clan in the targeted neighborhoods, though it presented limited public evidence linking most residents to the attack.

Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin announced the withdrawal and said Palestinian security forces had taken full control of the area. He stated that displaced families could now return home. Municipal figures cited in legal filings put the number of affected people as high as 4,969 from 780 families in the Ein Deir Baha and al-Jalda neighborhoods.

During the operation, troops ordered residents to leave their homes, in some cases in the early hours with little time to prepare. Petitions alleged that some houses were turned into military positions, civilian buildings were demolished, and traders were required to clear goods from shops. The Hebron Governorate reported that 15 homes and other structures were demolished and that more than 3,300 people were displaced or otherwise affected. Five universities were closed during the siege.

Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the municipality was informed of the withdrawal at 6 a.m. local time. Schoolchildren and university students began returning to classes for the first time in ten days. Palestinian authorities said they are monitoring conditions and facilitating the return of residents.

Senior Israeli officers had assessed earlier that the operation had achieved what it could and that continued presence risked generating further tension. The withdrawal occurred after Israel’s recent election. No immediate new incidents were reported in the city on 2 November.

The episode illustrates the pattern of large-scale military operations in the West Bank that follow attacks on Israeli forces, followed by partial or full withdrawals once tactical objectives are declared complete. The scale of displacement and the limited public evidence of widespread involvement by ordinary residents remain points of contention between Israeli and Palestinian accounts.