Palestinians return to Hebron after Israeli withdrawal
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan
Palestinian residents returned to their damaged homes in Hebron after the Israeli army withdrew at the end of a 10-day operation. The UN estimates that more than 3,000 people were displaced, while the army says it searched several sites and seized weapons, according to officials quoted by Sowetan.
Palestinians returned on Monday 2 November to their damaged homes in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, after Israeli forces withdrew following a 10-day operation in the city. The UN estimates that the operation displaced more than 3,000 people, while the army says it searched several sites and seized weapons, according to officials quoted by Sowetan.
The Israeli army said its soldiers had searched several locations, questioned suspects and seized four weapons, vests and military equipment. Residents found damaged homes and belongings scattered around. Tamara Obeid said soldiers had blown open the door of her home on 23 October, threatened her family and taken her husband away in handcuffs.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered the operation after two Israeli soldiers were killed on 23 October by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint in Hebron. The two attackers were also killed. According to local officials, the army also destroyed homes, shops, roads and factories in the city.
The withdrawal comes after the Israeli army kept two Hebron neighbourhoods sealed off, displacing 5,000 people, according to a report published on 30 October. On 2 November, the army also announced its withdrawal from a Hebron neighbourhood.
