Hebron Residents Flee as Troops Raze Homes After Fatal Ambush
Two thousand civilians exited the Ja'aba clan's neighborhoods as the Judea Brigade demolished structures and searched 200 sites near the scene where two soldiers were killed.
By Amelia Clarke ·
Residents of the al-Jalda and Ein Dir-Baha neighborhoods in western Hebron began packing their belongings on Friday evening, leaving their homes as Israeli troops initiated evacuations. These densely populated districts sit within the Palestinian urban area, and civilians who requested to depart were allowed to pass through checkpoints managed by the Shin Bet and the IDF.
The operation follows a shooting attack at Yehuda Junction the previous day that killed two soldiers: St.-Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem. Military officials identified the gunmen as Hamouda and Firas al-Ja'aba, both Hamas affiliates from the Ein Dir-Baha district. The Ja'aba clan, to which the attackers belong, is affiliated with Hamas, and IDF assessments place approximately 2,000 of its members in the targeted area.
On Saturday, troops and Civil Administration personnel demolished illegally constructed buildings and infrastructure near the northern entrance to Hebron. The military stated that these demolitions, located close to the ambush site, aim to enforce order and remove security threats. Soldiers concurrently searched roughly 200 locations to rule out weapons or terrorist activity, resulting in the arrest of 10 suspects.
The Judea Brigade commands this counterterrorism campaign, which includes troops from the Duvdevan and Maglan units, the Paratroopers Brigade, Givati reconnaissance reservists, and Border Police. The Shin Bet provides intelligence guidance for the operation. Officials explained that evacuating residents allows personnel to thoroughly inspect structures, homes, and immediate surroundings for weapons, ammunition, explosives laboratories, and caches without endangering civilians. The area is a known center for Hamas operative activity in Hebron.
Brig.-Gen. Kobi Heller, commander of the IDF's West Bank Division, has expanded arrest operations and searches in Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, and other locations in Samaria. A situational assessment was scheduled for Saturday to determine if the Hebron operation would widen further. These moves occur amid concerns that Hamas leadership abroad is attempting to orchestrate attacks ahead of upcoming elections.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
