JAKARTA - The Israeli army withdrew its troops from the southern Hebron area in the occupied West Bank late Thursday after a four-day military operation that included arrests, house searches, and property destruction.
Residents reportedly filled the streets after the troops left and expressed relief after days of tight closures and restrictions, according to witnesses to Anadolu reported by ANTARA, Friday, January 23.
During the operation, Israeli forces detained 10 Palestinians and interrogated dozens of others on the spot after raiding and searching their homes, local sources said.
"The troops also closed the main road and secondary roads and damaged a number of vehicles," the source added.
Israeli television channel Channel 12 reported that the military ended its operations in Hebron after searching 350 houses and arresting 14 Palestinians.
Families in southern Hebron called for community unity and social cohesion to be maintained, which they said was the strongest way to confront the occupation's policies and targeting efforts, according to a statement.
They also praised journalists and media crews for their professional and responsible coverage during the siege and closure, saying that the coverage helped convey the situation on the ground and expose policies they described as collective punishment.
According to the statement, independent media coverage challenges the Israeli narrative and highlights the suffering of the people without exaggeration or political exploitation.
The Israeli military, Monday, announced it had launched a military operation in Hebron that is expected to last several days, involving the Shin Bet internal security agency and Border Police units. The military said the operation was focused on the Jabal Jawhar area in the south of the city.
The military said the move was taken based on security assessments that showed increased armed activity, an escalation of inter-clan disputes, and the spread of illegal weapons.
Videos circulating on social media during the operation showed Israeli forces detaining Palestinians and raiding homes in southern Hebron.
The operation took place in the H2 Hebron area, which remains under full Israeli control under the 1997 Hebron Protocol between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The agreement divides the city into H1 areas managed by the Palestinian Authority and H2, which includes the Old City and the Ibrahimi Mosque.
Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, Israel has stepped up military operations and settler attacks across the West Bank, including killings, arrests, evictions, and settlement expansion.
At least 1,107 Palestinians were killed, nearly 11,000 were injured, and more than 21,000 were arrested in the West Bank during the period, according to official Palestinian data.
Reporter : Yoanita Hastryka Djohan
Editor : Primayanti
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