In brief
After ten days of military activity that saw Palestinian families evacuated, homes demolished and dozens of suspects detained, Israeli troops withdrew from Hebron on Monday. The decision was announced by Defense Minister Israel Katz, with the city's governor confirming the withdrawal and displaced residents returning home.
Israeli troops withdrew from the West Bank city of Hebron on Monday, ending a ten‑day operation that began after a shooting that killed two Israeli soldiers. The operation, launched on 23 October, involved the evacuation of Palestinian families, the demolition of homes, and widespread closures. Residents started returning to their homes on Monday, marking the first time the city had been completely free of Israeli forces in recent weeks.
A spokesperson for the Israeli army said the forces seized four weapons, demolished the houses of the two Palestinian attackers and detained dozens of suspects. The statement, released shortly after the withdrawal, described the operation as a response to the incident that claimed Israeli lives.
Defense Minister Israel Katz made the decision to conclude the operation on Sunday night, saying the withdrawal would provide relief for residents and help prepare the area. According to the Israeli Army Radio, Katz’s decision came despite the military’s earlier request to end the operation before the country’s parliamentary election.
Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin announced Monday that Israeli forces had pulled out of the city’s entire area. His statement confirmed that the city’s displaced families had been allowed back to their homes and that the 10‑day siege was over. The governor’s remarks were reported by several local news outlets and echoed by the army’s own accounts.
The operation was initially described by officials as a “necessary response” to the shooting that killed two soldiers. The Army’s statement highlighted the seizure of weapons and the detentions carried out during the campaign. Additionally, the operation included widespread urban closures aimed at controlling movement and preventing further violence.
The withdrawal has drawn attention from international observers who are monitoring the impact on local civilians. Both Israeli and Palestinian sources noted that many families had remained displaced during the operation and that the return of residents marks a significant shift in the city’s security status.
Several sources, including the Israeli Ministry of Defence and local Palestinian authorities, have reported that the city’s infrastructure remained largely undamaged, apart from the targeted demolitions. The army’s spokesperson confirmed that the homes destroyed were those of the attackers involved in the initial shooting.
While the Israeli government stresses the operation’s focus on security, Palestinian officials have emphasized the hardships faced by residents during the occupation. The governor’s announcement underscores the city’s regained status as a haven for displaced families, suggesting a potential period of normalization.
As the city settles, Israeli forces have taken no further military actions in Hebron, and the area remains under Palestinian administrative governance. Reports indicate that local authorities are working to restore basic services for families returning after the 10‑day campaign.
In the broader regional context, the ending of this operation follows a series of incidents that raised concerns about escalating tension. Policy analysts suggest that the withdrawal may alter future security dynamics in the West Bank, particularly in areas prone to conflict.