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Israeli army ends 11-day Hebron raid after looting and vandalising Palestinian homes
Israeli forces ended an 11-day military assault in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, after imposing a blockade and forcing hundreds of Palestinian families from their homes. Residents returning to al-Jalda found homes vandalised, while businesses, industrial sites and infrastructure were damaged or demolished. The destruction has left the city facing a major recovery effort and renewed allegations that Israel’s response amounted to collective punishment.
Hebron’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimated direct losses at more than 12 million shekels (about $3.8 million) a day; 327 businesses were shut, 15 facilities destroyed and around 1,350 people lost their livelihoods. UNICEF, citing municipal figures, reported that 483 displaced families included 4,304 people, among them 1,845 children. The incursion followed a shooting in which two Israeli soldiers were killed; the two Palestinian attackers were also killed.
In short
- An 11-day Israeli raid left homes and businesses damaged across Hebron.
- Daily economic losses were estimated at more than 12 million shekels.
- More than 4,300 people, including 1,845 children, were displaced.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Israel’s government could argue that the raid was a security response to an attack that killed two soldiers, intended to find further threats and prevent additional attacks. It may contend that temporary restrictions and evacuations were necessary to protect civilians during operations, while acknowledging that any damage to homes and businesses requires investigation and remedy.
The case against
Critics could argue that the scale and duration of the operation, the displacement of thousands and the reported destruction of homes, businesses and infrastructure went far beyond what was necessary to address the attackers. They may see the broad harm to residents and livelihoods as collective punishment, which cannot be justified by the security threat posed by individuals.
Explained simply
Hebron is a Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has maintained military control since capturing the territory in 1967. The city is home to Palestinians and a smaller Israeli settler population, and its residents have long faced restrictions linked to the military presence and settlement.
Israeli forces said the operation followed an attack that killed two soldiers. The two Palestinians identified as the attackers were also killed. Israeli authorities control security across much of the West Bank, while the Palestinian Authority administers some areas; their responsibilities and powers are divided under agreements made in the 1990s.
The raid’s effects reach beyond the homes people were forced to leave: damage to businesses, workplaces and infrastructure can disrupt incomes and services across the city. The scale of displacement and destruction also matters to the wider debate over Israel’s obligations under international law and the protection of civilians in occupied territory.