Israeli Military Launches West Bank Operation Following Fatal Attack

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Photo via Jordannews

The Israeli army announced a military operation in the West Bank on Friday evening, 23 October 2026, targeting cities including Hebron, Nablus, Tubas, Aqaba, and Qalqilya. Israeli occupation forces subsequently forced dozens of Palestinians to evacuate their homes in the Al-Jalda and Deir Bahha areas of Hebron on Saturday, 24 October 2026. These movements follow the military's initiation of operations across the identified urban centers.

The evacuation orders issued by the Israeli occupation forces on Saturday, 24 October 2026, required dozens of Palestinians to vacate their residences in the Al-Jalda and Deir Bahha neighborhoods. These actions were carried out as part of the broader military deployments that commenced in the West Bank on the previous evening.

Military Operations Across West Bank

Two Israeli soldiers were killed and others wounded in an attack near Hebron. This incident served as the primary trigger for the subsequent military deployments across multiple West Bank cities. The military response to the casualties sustained by the soldiers involved a series of tactical maneuvers and security measures implemented throughout the region.

Israeli forces demolished a three-apartment residential building in the Farsh Al-Hawa area west of Hebron on Friday, 23 October 2026. The structure was leveled as part of the military’s ongoing activities in the region. This demolition in Farsh Al-Hawa occurred on the same day the broader military operation was initiated across the West Bank.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, stated his government is considering a large-scale military operation in the West Bank. He noted that the planned actions could potentially represent the largest deployment since the 1967 war. Regarding the scope of these potential measures, Benjamin Netanyahu said, "The proposed operation would include evacuating residents from the neighborhood where the attackers had launched their operation, searching homes and destroying what he described as “terrorist infrastructure.”"

The government's consideration of this large-scale operation follows the recent security developments in the West Bank. The potential scope of the mission, as described by Benjamin Netanyahu, involves significant logistical planning and the mobilization of resources aimed at addressing the security situation. The mention of the 1967 war by Benjamin Netanyahu serves to contextualize the scale of the military planning currently under review by his administration.

The military continues to maintain a presence in the cities of Hebron, Nablus, Tubas, Aqaba, and Qalqilya. The activities reported in these urban centers remain a focal point of the military operation that began on 23 October 2026. Security forces are continuing to monitor the areas affected by the recent escalation, including the locations where the demolition and forced evacuations were conducted. The situation remains fluid as the military evaluates the ongoing security requirements in the West Bank.