Israeli forces withdraw from Hebron after ten-day operation

Withdrawal of forces and return of residents

The Governor of Hebron, Khaled Dudin, announced on Monday the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire territory of the city in the southern occupied West Bank. According to him, after the Israeli army's departure, Palestinian security forces took full control of the area, and families who had been forced to leave their homes can now return. 'The relevant authorities and Palestinian security forces are monitoring the situation on the ground and working to create the necessary conditions for the safe return of residents,' the governor was quoted as saying by Anadolu.

What happened in the city from October 23

The Israeli army's operation in Hebron began on October 23 after an attack by two Palestinians in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and three more were wounded; later, Israeli forces eliminated both attackers. Over the ten days of the operation, the army sealed off the city and surrounding villages, seized Palestinian homes in the Al-Jalda and Ein Deir Baha neighborhoods and converted them into military posts. According to the Hebron governorate, the operation involved the forced displacement of residents, demolition of houses, structures and commercial facilities, and damage to infrastructure: more than 3,300 Palestinians were affected, primarily in Al-Jalda and Ein Deir Baha, 15 houses and other structures were demolished, and the local economy and education system also suffered damage.

Context

The announcement of the withdrawal comes from the Palestinian side — the Governor of Hebron; confirmation or comment from the Israeli army is not provided in the Anadolu publication. The damage assessment also belongs to the Hebron governorate, and there is no independent verification of these figures in the report.