Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published October 25, 2026
Israel’s military continued a large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, October 25, following a shooting near Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others. The operation has displaced thousands of Palestinians, restricted movement across parts of the territory and intensified security tensions just days before Israel’s October 27 election.
Israeli Forces Expand Operations Across the West Bank
The Israeli military said its forces had conducted operations at more than 400 locations over the weekend, arresting 40 Palestinians it alleged were affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The operation is concentrated in and around Hebron, where the shooting occurred on Friday. Israeli forces have carried out searches, questioned suspects, demolished structures and imposed restrictions on movement.
The military said the measures were intended to locate suspected militants and dismantle infrastructure used to plan attacks. Following the shooting, Israeli authorities said weapons were found in the attackers’ vehicle and that the men may have been planning further attacks on Israeli civilians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a forceful response. After visiting the site of the attack, he said Israel would pursue those responsible and target the area from which the suspected gunmen emerged.
Defence Minister Israel Katz also said residents evacuated from the suspected attackers’ neighbourhood would not be allowed to return until the military had completed its operations there.
Thousands of Palestinians Displaced
The operation has significantly disrupted civilian life in Hebron.
The Hebron municipality reported that more than 2,600 Palestinians had been displaced. Residents from Deir Bahha and surrounding neighbourhoods were forced to leave their homes as Israeli forces conducted searches and imposed security restrictions.
Road closures and military checkpoints have made it difficult for residents to travel between neighbourhoods, reach workplaces and access essential services. Some Palestinians have had to carry food and other supplies through openings in military barriers because vehicles were not permitted to pass.
Israeli authorities also announced that most Palestinian workers holding permits would be barred from entering Israeli settlements in the West Bank on Sunday and Monday. Crossings into Israel were scheduled to remain closed until after Tuesday’s election.
The restrictions have raised concerns about access to employment, medical appointments and basic necessities if the operation continues.
Election Campaign Intensifies Security Debate
The military operation comes as Israel approaches a national election scheduled for October 27. Netanyahu’s leadership and his government’s handling of national security are central issues in the campaign.
The killing of the two soldiers has prompted calls from members of the governing coalition for a tougher response against Palestinian militants.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for a major offensive in the West Bank, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has made demands concerning the Palestinian Authority, which administers limited areas of Palestinian self-rule.
Opposition figures have also emphasized security concerns, although they differ with the government over how to address the conflict.
The timing has placed additional attention on the military operation as political leaders seek to demonstrate their approaches to protecting Israeli citizens. However, the operation’s timing alone does not establish that it was undertaken for electoral purposes.
International Concerns Over Civilian Impact
The operation has prompted concern over its effects on Palestinian civilians and the restrictions imposed on their movement.
The United Nations has called for an end to violence and expressed concern about closures affecting Palestinian livelihoods. Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem has also warned against measures it says could amount to collective punishment.
Israeli authorities maintain that the operation is a security response to the deadly shooting and is intended to prevent further attacks.
The broader West Bank situation remains volatile, with Palestinian attacks, Israeli military operations and violence by Israeli settlers contributing to rising tensions. The latest military action adds to concerns about further displacement and the potential for additional confrontations.
Casualties and Arrests Reflect Escalating Tensions
According to figures cited by the Associated Press from Palestinian health officials, 112 Palestinians, including the suspected gunmen, had been killed in the West Bank during 2026 as of the latest reporting. Six Israelis had also been killed in attacks or related incidents in the territory during the same period.
The figures reflect the continuing toll of violence in the West Bank, where Israeli military operations and Palestinian attacks have intensified since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023.
Israeli authorities have not specified exactly when the current operation will end. The duration of the restrictions, the ability of displaced residents to return home and the security situation following Tuesday’s election remain uncertain.
