Netanyahu orders Hebron demolition and home searches after soldiers killed
Israel sealed off the city and launched house-to-house searches following a shooting that killed Staff Sergeant Roytman and Sergeant Svilem near a junction.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Tensions in the West Bank rose on Friday after a shooting attack killed two Israeli soldiers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by ordering a major military operation and a full cordon of Hebron.
The Israeli military stated that two Palestinian men opened fire at a junction near Hebron. Forces at the scene killed both gunmen. The army later identified the deceased soldiers as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Three other soldiers sustained light injuries.
Investigators found a large quantity of weapons and ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. The military said this cache indicated plans for a major assault on civilians. The shooters used an M16 rifle and a handgun during the engagement.
Netanyahu ordered the evacuation of the Hebron neighborhood where the gunmen resided. He instructed troops to conduct a house-to-house search for weapons. He stated that the first step would be to demolish the site and completely transform it. Hebron is home to more than 200,000 people.
The prime minister announced that a wider campaign would follow the initial cordon. He said the IDF would enter neighborhoods where the terrorists emerged and dismantle the terror infrastructure. He added that Israel is prepared for an extensive operation in Judea and Samaria.
Hamas described the gunmen as its own and called the attack heroic. The group did not formally claim responsibility but urged armed Palestinians in the West Bank to strike at Israeli soldiers and civilians. Israel’s military confirmed it had begun offensive counterterrorism operations in Hebron. Soldiers were operating inside the homes of the attackers and other suspects. The army also reported arresting around 70 wanted Palestinians in West Bank operations over the past week.
The escalation occurred days before Israeli elections scheduled for Tuesday. Netanyahu has made national security a central theme of his campaign. He characterized the shooting as an attempt to influence the vote. His Likud party said he convened senior security chiefs on Friday and canceled all campaign events for the remainder of the day.
