Israel expands West Bank crackdown ahead of election

Israel has continued a major military operation in the occupied West Bank, conducting arrests and demolitions following Friday's killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen in Hebron. The crackdown comes days before Israel's October 27 election. Defense Minister Israel Katz said about 2,000 residents were evacuated from the gunmen's Hebron neighborhood, with no return allowed until Hamas issues are resolved. Israeli troops sealed the city, while officials reported over 70 arrests across the West Bank on Saturday. The attack marked six Israelis killed this year in the West Bank, while 112 Palestinians have died there, per Palestinian officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and right-wing ministers vowed forceful responses, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich promising building demolitions, as analysts link the tough rhetoric to pre-election campaigning.