IDF Says Hebron Operation Goals Met, But Netanyahu Demands Extension

A military official stated on Monday that the objectives of the operation in Hebron, which included deterrence, searching for terror infrastructure, and intelligence gathering, have been achieved. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had planned to conclude the operation, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz are insisting it continue. So far, forces have searched approximately 500 structures in the Palestinian city, locating one rifle and one handgun. Soldiers involved in the operation expressed frustration, with one saying, "We are sitting around doing nothing. We did the searches, looked for weapons, found what we found, and it's over." They added, "We are just wasting time now. You can always find another pistol and another Hamas flag, but that's not the goal. There are soldiers here who haven't been home for 28 days because someone doesn't want to say the operation is over." The IDF and Shin Bet launched the extensive counter-terrorism operation in Hebron following a deadly attack on Friday at the Yehuda Junction, which resulted in the deaths of two soldiers from the Home Front Command's Ari Battalion and injured three others. The operation involves elite units including Duvdevan, Maglan, Paratroopers, the reserve Givati reconnaissance unit, and the West Bank Border Police, with intelligence guidance from the Shin Bet and the Judea Brigade. The operation is concentrated in the area inhabited by approximately 2,000 members of the Ja'aba clan, which the IDF assesses is affiliated with Hamas and from which the two attackers originated. Concurrently, an operational debriefing of the attack is underway, examining the sequence of events, the force's readiness, and the circumstances of the soldiers' casualties, as well as whether the attackers acted alone or with assistance.