Following the shooting in the West Bank that killed two IDF soldiers and injured another, the military has launched a major operation in the nearby city of Hebron. The IDF, along with Shin Bet and Border Police, is conducting searches and seizing weapons and terrorist infrastructure. The Times of Israel reports that the operation is focused on the area where the gunmen were traced and had operated. It is expected to last several days.
Earlier Friday, the military said troops measured the homes in Hebron of the two gunmen who shot dead two soldiers manning a checkpoint at an exit to the city, ahead of their potential demolition. The IDF has also imposed a closure on Hebron and nearby Palestinian towns and villages.
Additionally, the army said troops were demolishing “illegal structures that could pose a security risk” in the area of the shooting attack.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also posted a video from the site of the attack, saying that he ordered “a series of demolitions of illegal structures” in order to “create deterrence and exact a price for the serious attack today.”
“We are already here with the equipment on the ground, sending an unequivocal message to our enemies: if you mess with us, we will exact a very, very painful price from you,” he added.
The raids have already yielded results. IDF troops discovered an underground passage in Hebron adjacent to the home of one of the gunmen. The tunnel was approximately 15 meters deep and 75 centimeters wide, with only one entrance and no exit. An electronic device was also discovered inside and confiscated for further investigation. Additionally, 50 suspects were taken in for questioning in the area. Over the weekend, the IDF reported conducting operations at more than 400 locations.
At the same time, Israel is preparing for tomorrow’s elections—the first national vote since the October 7, 2023, attacks. Security forces remain on high alert, and other West Bank crossings have been temporarily closed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reelection campaign and his leadership amid ongoing tensions with Iran remain central issues in the election.
The Fellowship and our supporters pray for the men and women of the IDF who have been deployed throughout the weekend to carry out counterterrorism operations. We also pray for the people of Israel as the nation approaches this important moment in its democratic process.