Friday night, gunmen opened fire on an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron, killing two soldiers. The ambush, which occurred at 4:45 p.m. local time, was the latest in a string of violent incidents that have rattled the West Bank. The Israeli army responded by moving into the city the following day.
In the early hours of Saturday, troops swept through Ein Dir Baha, a Palestinian neighbourhood bounded by two hills, and cleared the block of dozens of houses. Army soldiers woke shopkeeper Higazi Shawer al‑Tamimi at 1 a.m., giving him and his neighbours a two‑hour window to evacuate with only clothes and paperwork. The governor of Hebron, Khaled Dudin, said 150 families were affected, while mayor Youssef al‑Jaabari and activist Issa Amro put the figure at 250.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the soldiers' deaths, promised a “surprise” operation that could expand beyond the initial targets. He has warned that the Israeli far‑right advisor Itamar Ben Gvir will press for dismantling the Palestinian Authority, a stance that has already intensified settler attacks. Ahead of national elections on Tuesday, Netanyahu’s rhetoric is aimed at rallying his base.
The governor called the sweep a form of collective punishment, noting that many residents have no ties to the attackers. Rights group Yesh Din recorded 672 incidents of settler violence in the past 26 days, nearly half tied to the olive harvest. The Palestinian Authority remains unconnected to the attack, and the international community has urged restraint.
Military officials said the operation would continue for several more days, focusing on the area where the gunmen were killed. Netanyahu hinted that a broader crackdown could follow, and the Israeli parliament is scheduled to debate further security measures before the elections.