IDF conducts broad counter-terror operation in Judea & Samaria following Hebron attack

Following the terror attack in Hebron on Friday, the IDF initiated a broad counter-terror operation in the city, searching for additional terror operatives and infrastructure.

The counter-terror operation, which was also conducted in the nearby Palestinian town of Halhul, led to the initial arrest of ten suspects in those two locations. All the arrests were of members of the same Ja’aba clan from which the two attackers came.

According to reports in Hebrew media, this clan has ties to the Hamas terror organization, which has threatened to launch another Oct. 7-style assault, as it resists attempts at disarmament in Gaza.

Additionally, the IDF said it began demolishing illegally constructed buildings in the area of the attack, which had allowed the two terrorists to evade direct observation by the soldiers at the checkpoint.

⭕️ Following the terror attack on Friday, in which 2 IDF soldiers fell and additional soldiers were wounded, security forces launched a targeted operation in the area of Hebron from which the terrorists emerged, with the aim of dismantling terrorist infrastructure and preventing future attacks. To reduce the risk to civilians, civilians were permitted to temporarily leave the area through designated screening points. No civilians were forced to evacuate. In a separate activity, illegal structures were demolished at the site in Hebron where the attack took place. During the attack, the terrorists concealed themselves behind these structures and fired toward IDF soldiers. The demolition of the structures was intended to remove a security threat. All other structures demolished in the area were also built illegally, and their demolition was carried out in accordance with international law in order to enforce law and order and remove potential security threats.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 24, 2026

During the counter-terror operation, the IDF and Shin Bet allowed civilians to leave the area after passing through a security check.

Over the weekend, security forces, including the IDF, Shin Bet, and Border Patrol, conducted a large-scale counter-terror operation across Judea and Samaria in approximately 40 Palestinian towns and villages, the military announced Saturday night.

About 40 suspects were arrested, including several involved in the production of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), or people with known ties to terror organizations.

⭕️OPERATIONAL UPDATE - JUDEA & SAMARIA: Over the weekend, IDF soldiers, Israel Border Police, and the ISA operated in ~40 areas and 400 locations as part of counterterrorism activities, focusing on areas identified with Hamas. ~40 suspects were apprehended, including terrorists affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as suspects involved in incitement, public disorder, and rock-hurling. The security forces will continue to operate with determination to prevent the entrenchment of terrorism in the area and thwart any threat to Israeli civilians.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 24, 2026

Three additional suspects, who expressed support for the terror operation in which the two IDF soldiers were killed, were arrested in Hebron on Saturday night, the military said.

The arrests came after monitoring activity on social media spotted the posts, glorifying the attack and the two men who carried it out.

One post praised the attackers, saying, “The rights are mine and the land is mine; you have no place on our soil,” next to pictures of the attackers.

The post included a poem praising the terrorists.

Another one of the suspects shared statements from Muslim clerics and leading figures, calling on Arab and Islamic armies to wage an armed war against Israel.

“Fight them; Allah will punish them at your hands, humiliate them, grant you victory over them, and heal the hearts of the believers,” said one of statements.

As part of the arrests, mobile phones and computers were seized for forensic examination.

On Sunday morning, the IDF announced that the entry of Palestinian workers into Israeli settlements and communities within Judea and Samaria would not be permitted until after the elections, on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The military said that several exceptions for workers in industrial zones and a few additional areas have been approved.

The decision came after consultations with the security establishment and the political echelon, the military said, noting that no workers would be allowed entry on election day, even in the industrial zones.

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