2,000 Hebron Residents Leave Homes as Troops Demolish Structures

Residents of the al-Jalda and Ein Dir-Baha neighborhoods in western Hebron began leaving their homes on Friday evening. The military permitted civilians to exit through designated checkpoints staffed by the Shin Bet and the IDF. Officials stated that approximately 2,000 residents belong to the Ja'aba clan, a group affiliated with Hamas. The clan is identified as the origin of the gunmen who killed two soldiers at Yehuda Junction on Friday.

The deaths of St.-Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem triggered a large-scale counterterrorism operation under the command of the Judea Brigade. Troops from the Duvdevan and Maglan units, the Paratroopers Brigade, Givati reconnaissance reservists, and the Border Police are involved in the campaign. The Shin Bet provides intelligence guidance for the mission. Central Command officials identified the attackers as Hamouda and Firas al-Ja'aba, both of whom are linked to Hamas.

On Saturday, Israeli troops and Civil Administration personnel demolished illegally constructed buildings and infrastructure near the northern entrance to Hebron. The demolitions took place close to the scene of Friday's shooting. The military stated that the structures posed potential security threats. Officials said that evacuating residents allows security personnel to search family homes, structures, and immediate surroundings for weapons, ammunition, explosives laboratories, and weapons caches without endangering civilians.

During the operation, soldiers searched roughly 200 locations. They ruled out the presence of weapons and terrorist activity in those specific sites. The force arrested 10 suspects during the sweep. The area is described by the security establishment as a center of activity for Hamas operatives in Hebron.

Brig.-Gen. Kobi Heller, commander of the IDF's West Bank Division, has expanded arrest operations and searches beyond Hebron. Troops are now active in the Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm areas, as well as additional locations throughout Samaria. Officials noted that a situational assessment would be held on Saturday to determine whether the operation would expand further. The broader campaign comes amid concerns that Hamas leadership abroad may attempt to orchestrate terrorist attacks ahead of upcoming elections.