Israeli Military Intensifies West Bank Operation Amid Pre-Election Tensions
On Sunday, the Israeli military expanded its significant operation in the occupied West Bank, imposing stringent movement restrictions in anticipation of Israel’s upcoming elections. This action followed a gun attack on Friday that resulted in the death of two Israeli soldiers and injuries to three others in Hebron.
The operation has led to the displacement of hundreds of Palestinians over two days. According to the municipality, more than 2,200 individuals, including nearly 200 children below 18 years, have been displaced in Hebron. The city’s entrances and exits have been sealed since the attack, with focal points in Deir Bahha and Al-Jalda, as noted by Hebron Mayor Yousef Zuhair Al-Jabari.
“People cannot reach or enter the city, and they cannot leave it. The blockade has affected every aspect of life,” Al-Jabari stated.
Israeli military operations persist, as soldiers raid various homes and restrict press members from covering events in Hebron, West Bank, Palestine. The Israeli military reported operating in over 400 locations over the weekend, arresting 40 Palestinians purportedly affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Furthermore, the military announced that most Palestinian workers with permits would be barred from entering Israeli settlements for work on Sunday and Monday. Crossings into Israel will remain shut until after the Tuesday elections.
The election acts as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership and security policies over three war-torn years. Attacks in the West Bank have claimed the lives of six Israelis this year amid rising violence. In the same period, 112 Palestinian deaths have been recorded, per the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah.
Friday’s attack incited outrage in Israel, prompting statements from Netanyahu and three right-wing government officials at the attack site. They pledged a robust response.
“We warned a few weeks ago about attempts by our enemies to harm us, our citizens, and our soldiers ahead of the election,” Netanyahu remarked. “We will act to destroy this place.”
Netanyahu, seeking reelection next week with President Trump’s endorsement, faces pressure to showcase strong action against Palestinian attackers, aiming to enhance his image among Israelis uneasy about security.
The West Bank, a region occupied by Israel during the 1967 Mideast war, houses roughly 3 million Palestinians and 540,000 Israeli settlers. Hebron remains highly tense, being the sole city where Jewish settlers reside in the center of a densely populated Palestinian area, under Israeli military protection.