Israeli forces carried out a major security operation in the West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday, a day after two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others at a military checkpoint near the city.
The Israeli military said the operation was aimed at locating militants and weapons in the area where the attackers had operated. Both gunmen were killed during Friday's exchange of fire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a large-scale military response following the attack, saying Israeli forces would conduct an extensive operation in Hebron.
The military said its forces were conducting "precise, targeted and thorough searches" and that the operation was expected to continue for several days.
According to the Israeli military, the operation is focused on the area from which the attackers came. Residents leaving the affected neighbourhoods are being directed through designated exit points, where security checks are being conducted.
Hundreds of Palestinian residents displaced
The military operation has also resulted in the displacement of hundreds of Palestinian residents.
Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari and local activist Issa Amro estimated that approximately 250 families had been forced to leave their homes, while Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin put the figure at 150 families.
In the Ein Dir Baha neighbourhood, Israeli troops marked buildings with X symbols after clearing them of residents. Streets were largely deserted, with military vehicles patrolling the area.
Local Palestinian officials said the operation had affected approximately one-third of the city, although the Israeli military described its actions as focused on the neighbourhoods linked to Friday's attack.
Governor Dudin criticised the scale of the operation, arguing that civilians who had no involvement in the shooting were being affected.
"This amounts to collective punishment being imposed on civilians who have nothing at all to do with this," he told AFP.
The mayor said local authorities were working to provide assistance and temporary accommodation to displaced residents.
"We will find them shelter and provide these people with all the help they need," he said.
Israeli forces also restricted vehicle access to Hebron, with gates at entrances to the city closed to traffic. Palestinians were seen crossing checkpoints on foot.
Netanyahu promises further security measures
The operation comes just days before Israel's general election on Tuesday, with Netanyahu facing a closely contested race against an opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
Netanyahu has pledged a strong response to the killing of the soldiers, signalling that additional military measures could follow.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank under agreements reached with Israel in the 1990s.
Netanyahu has also reiterated his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying he had resisted pressure from successive US administrations on the issue.
The Israeli government's security policies in the West Bank remain a major issue in the election campaign, alongside concerns over attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel.
Meanwhile, tensions across the occupied West Bank remain high amid continuing Israeli military operations and reports of violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents.
Israeli human rights organisation Yesh Din reported 672 incidents of settler violence over a 26-day period, nearly half of them linked to the olive harvest.
The latest operation in Hebron is expected to continue for several days, with Israeli authorities maintaining that their immediate objective is to address security threats following Friday's deadly attack.
