It is common practice for Israeli forces to demolish the homes of Palestinians who are suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis in the West Bank – a practice Israeli rights groups have criticised as collective punishment.
Netanyahu likened the operation to previous operations in Palestinian refugee camps in the north of the territory, when the Israeli military demolished hundreds of homes and displaced tens of thousands in 2025.
Friday’s shooting came during a tense time for the region, with Israel’s general election taking place in four days’ time.
Netanyahu – who has built his campaign on the promise of security – cancelled his party’s campaign events for Friday morning and headed to Hebron, wearing protective armour and posting a video on social media from the scene.
“We will evacuate the residents, go house to house, remove the weapons we find there, and deal with and destroy all terrorist infrastructure,” he said.
He also announced he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967 – though did not say when it could be carried out. It is not clear whether the ongoing Hebron operation forms part of that.
In an interview with Israel’s i24 television channel released on Saturday, he threatened “a very big surprise” for the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the territory.
In a statement, the PA called for “urgent international action that went beyond condemnation” to prevent further forced displacement.
Meanwhile, his far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel to launch a campaign in the West Bank “exactly like in Gaza or Lebanon,” while far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for Israel to dismantle the PA.
Speaking to journalists, Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the operation was “driven by the elections,” and that Netanyahu and his ministers were attempting to secure the votes of the far-right and the settlers.
