Two thousand residents live in the targeted Hebron district
Israeli forces are conducting a major sweep and demolition campaign in Hebron after two soldiers were killed in a shooting, with officials citing specific security threats from the local area.
By Hugo Cook ·
Approximately 2,000 residents of the targeted district belong to the Ja'aba clan, a group linked to Hamas from which the gunmen in Friday's deadly attack originated. This demographic detail has become central to the military's current strategy in the area. The figure highlights the scale of the population living in the immediate vicinity of the northern entrance to Hebron, where the latest phase of the counterterrorism campaign is taking place.
The operation began on Saturday as troops and Civil Administration personnel tore down illegally built structures and infrastructure. These demolitions occurred near the site of Friday's shooting, which claimed the lives of St.-Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem at Yehuda Junction. Military leaders stated that removing these buildings serves a dual purpose of restoring order and removing potential cover or threats posed by the constructions.
The Judea Brigade is commanding the broader effort, drawing on resources from several elite and reserve units. The Duvdevan and Maglan units, alongside the Paratroopers Brigade, Givati reconnaissance reservists, and Border Police, are all participating in the sweep. The Shin Bet security agency is providing intelligence guidance to direct the tactical movements of the ground forces.
In the first few days of the campaign, soldiers have conducted thorough checks of about 200 different locations. These searches aimed to rule out the presence of hidden weapons and ongoing terrorist activity. During these sweeps, authorities took ten suspects into custody. The focus remains on identifying and neutralizing infrastructure that could be used for future attacks.
Central Command officials identified the two shooters as Hamouda and Firas al-Ja'aba. Both men are affiliated with Hamas and came directly from the Ein Dir-Baha neighborhood. This connection to the local clan structure has intensified the scrutiny of the western Hebron districts, which are known to be hubs for Hamas operatives.
On Friday evening, the military started evacuating residents from the al-Jalda and Ein Dir-Baha neighborhoods. These are densely populated areas within the Palestinian urban sector of Hebron. Civilians who wished to leave were allowed to depart temporarily through specific checkpoints managed by the Shin Bet and the IDF. This controlled exit process aims to facilitate safer searches of homes and surrounding areas.
Authorities explained that moving civilians out of the buildings allows security teams to inspect structures, family homes, and immediate surroundings more effectively. The goal is to locate terrorist infrastructure, weapons, ammunition, explosives labs, and storage caches without placing civilians at risk. The area has a long history of being a center for militant activity in the region.
A situational assessment is scheduled for Saturday to determine if the operation should expand further. In the meantime, Brig.-Gen. Kobi Heller, who leads the West Bank Division, has already broadened arrest and search activities in the Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm regions, as well as other parts of Samaria. These moves are happening against a backdrop of concerns that Hamas leaders abroad may be coordinating attacks ahead of upcoming elections.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
