Israeli troops disperse Palestinian protests against Hebron demolitions as thousands displaced

Israeli troops used stun grenades on October 27, 2026 to disperse Palestinians protesting military demolitions in Hebron. The operation, launched after gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers on October 23, displaced over 3,000 residents and drew UN warnings of illegal collective punishment. The unrest unfolded alongside Israel's general election, which reached a political stalemate with Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc taking 53 seats and Gadi Eisenkot's bloc securing 48.

Protests and criticism over Hebron actions

• ▪Palestinian officials accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of launching the Hebron crackdown to energize right-wing voters during the October 27, 2026 Israeli election.
• ▪United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated on October 26, 2026 that Israeli military actions in Hebron constituted illegal collective punishment.
• ▪Israeli troops fired a stun grenade to disperse Palestinian men, women, and children protesting military demolitions in Hebron

Displacement and hardships among Hebron residents

• ▪Displaced Palestinian residents in Hebron reported that Israeli road blockages severely hindered access to essential medical care during the October 2026 military operation.
• ▪An Israeli military operation in Hebron displaced over 3,000 Palestinian residents from their homes, according to a United Nations statement released on October 26, 2026.

Israeli search operations and movement restrictions

• ▪Following the October 23, 2026 shooting attack near Hebron, Israeli authorities blocked entrances to most West Bank cities and towns, restricting Palestinian movement.
• ▪Following the October 23, 2026 checkpoint attack near Hebron, the Israeli military initiated house searches and announced planned demolitions in surrounding West Bank neighborhoods.
• ▪Searches conducted by Israeli soldiers prior to planned house demolitions in Hebron yielded no weapons, according to an Israeli military statement on October 25, 2026.

Israeli general election results

• ▪Israel's general election resulted in a political deadlock with neither Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor Gadi Eisenkot's bloc securing a 61-seat majority
• ▪Voter turnout in the October 27, 2026 Israeli general election exceeded 77 percent, marking the highest participation rate in more than two decades.
• ▪With 90 percent of votes counted after the October 27, 2026 election, Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud bloc held 53 seats while Gadi Eisenkot's bloc held 48 seats in the Knesset.

Arab parties and post-election disputes

• ▪Arab-led political parties won approximately 19 seats in the Knesset during the October 27, 2026 election, positioning them as potential kingmakers in coalition negotiations.
• ▪Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party accused Arab political parties of stealing the October 27, 2026 election and reported the allegations to police on October 28, 2026.