Israeli Forces Withdraw from Hebron Areas After Ten-Day Operation

Israeli forces have withdrawn from areas around Hebron in the occupied West Bank after an operation that lasted roughly ten days. The raid followed a shooting at a checkpoint that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded others. The two alleged attackers were later killed by Israeli forces.

Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin said Palestinian security forces have taken control of the area after the Israeli pullback. He told displaced families they could return home. Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the municipality was informed of the withdrawal at 6 a.m. local time on 2 November. Schoolchildren returned to classrooms and university students resumed travel after five universities had been closed during the operation.

Reports indicate that more than 3,000 Palestinians were displaced or affected. Some 537 families were forced from their homes at night and stayed with relatives elsewhere in the city. The Hebron municipality stated that 15 homes and structures were demolished and 327 shops closed, with daily economic losses estimated above 12 million shekels.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed completion of the raid and withdrawal from the neighbourhood where the gunmen had lived. Earlier Palestinian media reports said troops had left several neighbourhoods. The operation began on 23 October after the checkpoint attack.

The United Nations has noted the displacement of more than 3,000 people in the city. Residents returning to damaged homes described restricted movement and closed businesses during the period. Palestinian authorities said they are monitoring conditions for a safe return.

Hebron has long been a site of tension between Israeli forces, settlers and Palestinian residents. The city is divided under the Oslo arrangements, with the Israeli military retaining control in parts. The recent operation is one of the larger ones in the area since the start of the current Gaza war.

Local officials emphasised that students could resume studies and that markets could reopen. The scale of demolitions and shop closures will require assessment for compensation and reconstruction. No new large-scale clashes were reported immediately after the withdrawal.

The checkpoint shooting that triggered the operation killed two soldiers and injured three others, according to Israeli accounts. Israeli forces subsequently located and killed the two suspects. The duration of the lockdown restricted civilian movement across large parts of the city.

International organisations that track West Bank operations have recorded the displacement figures. The return of residents is proceeding under the coordination of the Hebron governorate and Palestinian security forces. Further details on the extent of structural damage are expected from municipal surveys.