Why is Israel launching a new military operation in the occupied West Bank?

What the report says

Israeli forces have begun a new major operation in the occupied West Bank, centered on the Hebron area and expected to continue for several days, according to Al Jazeera. The move follows Friday’s shooting attack at an Israeli checkpoint near Hebron, where two Israeli soldiers were killed and the suspected Palestinian gunmen were also killed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said troops would go house to house in the area and that Israel would “destroy” the place, while ordering a broader lockdown across the West Bank.

Al Jazeera reported that the operation includes soldiers, police and other security personnel, with plans for arrests, home demolitions and possible forced displacement. By Saturday, raids had reached at least 15 towns in the northern West Bank, including Nablus, Jenin, Tubas and Qalqilya, and dozens of Palestinians had been detained. In Hebron, residents reported roadblocks, military vehicles and a bulldozer used during demolitions, while hundreds of families were ordered to leave homes in parts of the city and nearby areas.

The crackdown comes amid heightened tensions in the West Bank, where Al Jazeera said settler and military attacks against Palestinians have increased during the olive harvest season. Palestinian and UN officials have criticized the operation, warning that the lockdown and demolitions amount to collective punishment and could severely restrict movement, access to services and livelihoods. Israeli far-right ministers have backed tougher measures, adding to concern that the escalation could widen unrest in the territory.