It is a common practice for Israeli forces to demolish the homes of Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis in the West Bank, a practice Israeli rights groups have criticized as collective punishment.
Netanyahu likened the operation to earlier 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 period for the region, with Israel’s general election scheduled for four days later.
Netanyahu, who built his campaign on the promise of security, canceled his party’s campaign events for Friday morning and headed to Hebron, wearing protective armor 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 that he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, though he did not specify when it could be carried out. It was not clear whether the ongoing Hebron operation formed 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, which governs parts of the territory.
In a statement, the Palestinian Authority 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 Palestinian Authority.
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.
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