Israeli military operation displaces hundreds in West Bank before election

The Israeli military has continued a large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank, displacing more than 2,200 Palestinians, including nearly 300 children, according to the Hebron municipality, WRAL reported.

This operation follows a gun attack in Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others. The military said it has conducted searches in over 400 locations and arrested 40 Palestinians linked to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as reported by krmg.com.

Major restrictions have been placed on Palestinian movement, with most workers holding permits barred from entering Israeli settlements for work on Sunday and Monday. Crossings into Israel will remain closed until after the upcoming election, according to the Israeli military statements covered by both sources.

The military warned residents to evacuate Deir Bahha, the neighborhood of the suspected gunmen, and sealed all entrances and exits to the city. The blockade has affected daily life, including business closures and the shuttering of a mosque, as noted by Hebron officials.

This operation is occurring in the final days before a tense Israeli election, which is viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership and security policies over the past three years of conflict.

The military stated that weapons were found in the gunmen’s car and that they were likely planning further attacks before being stopped at a checkpoint.