Israeli Army Withdraws From Hebron After Displacing Thousands

Israeli forces withdrew Monday from western Hebron neighborhoods after a 10-day operation. Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin said displaced families can return home.

• 2 Israeli soldiers were killed and 3 wounded in the October 23 shooting.
• 3,300+ Palestinians were displaced or affected, per the Hebron Governorate.
• 15 homes and other structures were demolished, the governorate said.
• 4,969 people may be affected, per municipal figures cited in a petition.

Why it matters: The operation centered on the Ein Deir Baha and al-Jalda neighborhoods. Residents were ordered out overnight with no return date, a court petition alleges.

• The IDF linked evacuees to a Hamas-connected clan but gave few specifics.
• IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had recommended an earlier withdrawal.
• 1,200 tons of waste piled up as access routes stayed blocked.

How 4 sources split on this story

Where they split: The dispute is whether the operation served a security purpose or punished a neighborhood for two attackers' actions.

What’s next: Palestinian security forces have taken control of the area, Dudin said. Authorities are preparing for residents' return.

• Adalah's High Court petition seeks to bar further evacuations and demolitions.
• How many evacuees, if any, had links to the attack or other offenses?
• Will residents whose homes were demolished or seized receive compensation or housing?
• Will the High Court rule on the petition now that troops have withdrawn?