Israel Launches Major West Bank Operation, Demolishes Hebron Homes After Two Soldiers Killed Days Before Election

Israel's military launched a major operation in the occupied West Bank on Friday, saying it would last several days and include searches and building demolitions [270692]. The move came after gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers, just days before Israeli elections in which security is a key issue [270692].

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in a tight race to keep his job in Tuesday's vote [270692]. He has campaigned on promises to keep Israelis safe, and he and his right-wing allies visited the scene of the attack and pledged an even harder line on security [270692].

Israeli forces demolished Palestinian homes in Hebron on Sunday, displacing several families [270592]. The crackdown follows the killing of the two Israeli soldiers by two Palestinian gunmen on Friday and comes just days ahead of Israel's election [270592].

Also on Saturday, thousands of people marched in Tel Aviv to protest Netanyahu's government, three days before the general election [270321]. The protesters demanded accountability for the government's failure to prevent the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which led to the war in Gaza [270321].