Israel Ends Hebron Operation After Security Meeting

Israel's operation in Hebron, dubbed "Ryk Yehuda," has been ordered to conclude by Finance Minister Katz following a security assessment on Sunday. The decision was made during a meeting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend. Katz outlined two conditions for ending the operation: first, the development of an evacuation mechanism for urban areas that can be used in the future, and second, a clear warning to the Palestinian Authority and other Palestinian bodies that this mechanism will be expanded to other locations if further attacks occur.

The operation followed a deadly shooting attack on Highway 35 near the Yehuda junction on October 23, 2026. Witnesses reported that two terrorists, armed with automatic rifles, fired for over 20 minutes. IDF soldiers from the "Ari" battalion of the Home Front Command's training and rescue brigade engaged and killed the two assailants. The search for accomplices is ongoing.

Magen David Adom reported five wounded individuals, two critically and three lightly. Two of the wounded later died. Two others were hospitalized in Jerusalem in moderate to mild condition, with another lightly wounded individual taken to a different Jerusalem hospital. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, calling the perpetrators "heroes."

Security forces believe the terrorists, whose car contained a large cache of ammunition, were planning a larger-scale attack. The IDF has measured the homes of the eliminated terrorists for potential demolition. Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir convened a meeting where he stated that the soldiers' swift actions prevented a more severe attack. He approved the lockdown of Hebron and surrounding villages, ordering increased intelligence gathering and further arrests.