WEST BANK, 24 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Israeli forces began demolishing buildings and ordering residents to evacuate a neighbourhood in the occupied West Bank on Friday, following a shooting attack in Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers and lightly wounded three others at a military checkpoint. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said two Palestinian gunmen carried out the attack, prompting Israeli authorities to launch a multi-day security operation in the area. The incident occurred just four days before Israel’s elections, placing security concerns at the centre of a crucial political test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has sought to project a tough stance on security. Following the shooting, the IDF announced a “full siege” on Hebron, while Netanyahu said he had ordered a complete closure of the occupied West Bank from Friday. He later indicated that the restrictions could be adjusted, saying he would consider imposing a cordon around Hebron and Halhul, potentially extending the measures to other areas. Netanyahu also said the military would forcibly evacuate the neighbourhood where the attack took place and “transform it completely,” referring to similar operations conducted in the Jenin, Tulkarm, Nur Shams and Al-Far’a refugee camps in early 2025, when thousands of Palestinians were displaced and neighbourhoods evacuated. The IDF and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) announced a counterterrorism operation lasting several days in the Hebron area, saying forces had begun targeted searches to locate and dismantle what they described as terrorist infrastructure and weapons, while questioning suspects. The authorities said the operation would remain limited to the area from which the gunmen allegedly launched the attack. Residents would be allowed to leave through three designated exit points but would undergo questioning and security screening, with individuals considered suspicious referred for further interrogation. The security measures also include mapping the attackers’ residences, establishing a cordon around Hebron and Halhul, setting up roadblocks and conducting counterterrorism activities in surrounding areas. Israeli forces have also begun demolishing structures they described as illegal and potentially posing security threats. The demolitions, forced evacuations and movement restrictions mark a further escalation of Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank following the deadly shooting. The operation comes amid heightened tensions ahead of Israel’s elections, as Netanyahu’s government faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of security threats and the wider conflict with the Palestinians.