On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a large-scale military operation in the West Bank, marking it as the most significant since the Six-Day War in 1967. This announcement followed a deadly armed assault near Hebron, which resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and injuries to three others.
Earlier in the day, a gunfight erupted at the Yehuda junction on Hebron's outskirts, where two armed Palestinians attacked an Israeli military post. The confrontation lasted around twenty minutes. The fallen soldiers were identified as First Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem, 20. The attackers were neutralized by Israeli forces, who discovered an M16 rifle, a pistol, and a substantial amount of ammunition in their vehicle.
Netanyahu, in a video from Hebron posted on his X account, stated emphatically, "The Defense Minister and I have witnessed extensive action by the Israeli Army in Judea and Samaria, unlike anything since the Six-Day War. The Army is prepared to execute it; we will choose the timing, but it is forthcoming."
In immediate response to the attack, Netanyahu ordered the encirclement of Hebron and preparations for an indefinite lockdown of the entire West Bank. In an earlier social media post, he asserted, "I have instructed the Israeli Army and security forces to impose an immediate siege on Hebron and prepare for a total closure of Judea and Samaria starting today."
Additionally, Netanyahu announced plans to implement in the Hebron neighborhood where the assailants originated, the same strategies employed in the northern West Bank refugee camps: "We will evacuate residents, conduct house-to-house searches, confiscate weapons, and dismantle all terrorist infrastructure."
The Prime Minister further took this occasion to announce the construction and legalization of over 100 new settlements and farms in the West Bank, alongside the demolition of homes deemed illegal along roads considered threats to Israeli forces.
The political landscape adds another layer of complexity to this announcement. Israeli parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 27, just days after the attack. Polls place Netanyahu's bloc between 49 and 53 seats, short of the 61 needed for governance. Netanyahu himself acknowledged the attack as an effort by "enemies" to harm Israel "ahead of the elections."
This offensive is part of a continuous escalation in the West Bank since January 2025, following Israel's launch of the "Iron Wall" operation in the Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams refugee camps, displacing over 33,000 Palestinians who, as of July 2026, had yet to return. Last September, the UN raised concerns about potential crimes against humanity during these operations.
"We will pursue Hamas terrorists and those who send them everywhere and at all times. They have nowhere to hide," Netanyahu warned in his morning message, pointing fingers at the Islamist movement for the attack, although independent verification of this affiliation was pending at the time of reporting.
Key Questions about the West Bank Military Operation
What prompted Israel's large-scale military operation in the West Bank?
The operation was announced following a deadly attack near Hebron, where two Israeli soldiers were killed and three were injured by armed Palestinians.
What measures has Netanyahu ordered in response to the Hebron attack?
Netanyahu has commanded an immediate siege on Hebron and preparations for a comprehensive shutdown of the entire West Bank.
How does the political context influence Netanyahu's announcement?
The announcement comes just days before Israeli parliamentary elections, with Netanyahu's bloc currently falling short of the necessary majority to govern.
What international reactions have been prompted by Israel's actions in the West Bank?
The United Nations has previously raised concerns about possible crimes against humanity in Israel's operations in the West Bank.