Hebron residents return after Israeli army withdrawal

Israeli troops withdrew on Monday from an area of Hebron in the occupied West Bank after an operation that had forced Palestinian residents out following an October attack that killed two soldiers.

AFP journalists saw residents returning to their homes after the military left, with many houses in disarray after searches by troops. An Israeli military official said soldiers had completed operational activities in the area, while counterterrorism activity across the West Bank would continue.

The operation had emptied a neighbourhood where two Palestinian gunmen lived. The Hebron municipality said more than 3,000 people were displaced.

On October 23, the two gunmen attacked an army checkpoint near Hebron, killing two soldiers before being shot dead in a firefight. The attack prompted demolitions near the checkpoint and vows of a major retaliatory operation from senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The military official said soldiers searched multiple locations, detained and questioned suspects, confiscated four weapons, several vests and other military equipment, demolished the attackers' homes and sealed an underground space next to one of them.

Mohammad Juaaba, a relative of one of the assailants, said the top floor of the family home had been destroyed and relatives planned to move back into lower floors that remained habitable.

Muhannad al-Tamimi, whose house had been occupied by soldiers since the operation began, told AFP he returned to a damaged apartment. He accused soldiers of assaulting him, threatening his wife, frightening his children, kicking his young daughter and stealing gold and money. The military said it was looking into the allegations.

Hebron city council member Reem al-Sharif said the operation had covered two neighbourhoods and that municipal workers were helping to clean up the area.