Israel initiates “timed counter-terrorism operation” in the Hebron region

Aisrael’s Defense Forces (IDF) today announced the beginning of a “timely and limited counter-terrorist operation” in the Hebron region of the West Bank in response to the fire attack attributed to the Hamas movement, in which two military personnel died.

“ The troops began thorough searches throughout the area, aiming to locate and dismantle terrorist infrastructure and seize weapons, as well as interrogate suspects,” the FDI said in a statement released on social networks.

The target of the “timely and limited counter-terrorist operation” is the Hebron region, from which the terrorists have left and the IDF has advanced that residents of the region where the forces are operating may leave through three designated exit points, after undergoing interrogation and security tracking.

“ Individuals who raise suspicion during this process will be referred to security forces for additional interrogations ", advance.

The attack that triggered the military response took place today at the intersection of Judea near Hebron.

Two of the attackers were killed by Israeli military personnel, while the Army continued its search to identify other possibles involved.

Two Israeli soldiers died in the attack, while three others suffered minor injuries.

Katz stated that the attackers belonged to a cell of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, from Hebron, and that they intended to carry out a large attack on Israeli civilians.

Hamas welcomed the attack and called for further shootings against Israelis, but did not claim its authorship.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously announced the start of a military operation in the occupied West Bank, including the forced withdrawal of Palestinian residents after the deadly attack.

“Israel’s Defense Forces will enter the neighborhoods from which the terrorists left, remove residents, conduct house-to-house searches and dismantle terrorist infrastructure,” Netanyahu promised in a video message.

The Prime Minister, who moved today to the area where the attack took place, near the city of Hebron, ensured that the Army is prepared for an operation “on a scale never seen since the Six-Day War”, in 1967.

Netanyahu also promised to strengthen the infrastructure of Israeli settlements in the occupied territory, stating that the government is establishing and legalising more than a hundred new communities.

Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law.

Defense Minister, Israel Katz, who visited Hebron along with Netanyahu, confirmed that the neighborhood from which the perpetrators of the attack will have left will be evacuated and that the infrastructure considered terrorists by Israel will be destroyed.

According to Katz, the operation will follow the model previously applied in the Jenin refugee camp in northern West Bank.

The announcement of the military operation takes place four days from the Israeli legislative elections, scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, in a context of increasing political tension and opposition accusations on the electoral use of security issues.