Israeli troops pulled back from the West Bank city of Hebron on Monday, ending a 10‑day military operation that began after a shooting that killed two Israeli soldiers. The withdrawal was announced after Defense Minister Israel Katz decided to end the operation on Sunday night, according to a statement released by the Israeli Army Radio.
The operation started on Oct. 23 and involved the evacuation of Palestinian families, demolition of several homes, and widespread road closures. Residents began returning to their homes on Monday as the military withdrew. A spokesperson for the Israeli army said forces seized four weapons, demolished the homes of the two Palestinians who carried out the attack, and detained dozens of suspects during the operation.
An Israeli military official reported that the withdrawal followed an order from Defense Minister Katz late on Sunday, even though the army had requested an end to the operation before the country’s last‑week parliamentary election. The official, speaking to Xinhua, noted that the forces had carried out the operation as instructed and that residents were now allowed to return to their homes.
The operation’s conclusion came after a series of confrontations that had included shooting incidents and a flare‑up of tensions in the region. No additional casualties were reported during the withdrawal, and the Israeli army indicated that the city would resume normal operations. The withdrawal marked the end of a tense period in Hebron, which had seen heightened security measures since the attack.”
