Arutz Sheva / Israel National News, on West Bank, 31 October 2026

7.3out of 10Serious

IDF releases recordings of

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.6 findings

responsible for the deadly attack at , . The demolitions took place Friday under the command of the Yehuda Brigade and the 98th Division, with IDF engineering troops from the elite Yahalom Unit carrying out the operation. The two terrorists had been killed during an exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers at the junction the previous weekend.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

The article leaves out that before the demolitions Israeli occupation forces removed residents from the neighbourhood and declared it a closed military zone. Without this, a reader believes the demolitions affected only the two dead men.

How we know

Two IDF soldiers were killed in the confrontation. Three additional soldiers were lightly wounded. Yehuda Brigade Commander Col. Dotan Malul addressed the operation in radio communications released by the IDF, emphasizing that Israeli forces would continue their counterterrorism activities throughout the area. "On the eve of Shabbat, after eight days of operations, we are destroying the homes of the cursed terrorists who tried to harm residents of the area and encountered our heroic IDF soldiers," Malul said.

"We are here in the heart of Hebron, ready and prepared for any mission. The Yehuda Brigade will continue standing guard at all times and will not allow terrorism or Hamas to raise their heads." The operation also carried significance for the soldiers of the Aryeh Battalion of the IDF's Search and Rescue Brigade, who took part in the original clash and lost two of their comrades. The battalion commander paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, saying their sacrifice would guide the battalion's continued operations.

"Last week, in a clash with terrorists at the Yehuda Junction, soldiers of the Aryeh Battalion fought to defend the citizens of the State of Israel. During the battle, two heroes fell. We will continue operating in their spirit and in their memory." The demolitions were part of a broader eight-day operation in Hebron . On Thursday, IDF troops demolished monuments honoring terrorists in the city.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

The article describes the eight-day operation only as targeting terrorist infrastructure. It leaves out that the Hebron Municipality said the offensive had displaced 4,969 Palestinians from 780 families, and that 110 Palestinians were arrested in the governorate. Without this, a reader believes the operation was narrow and touched only the attackers.

How we know

The following day, they completed the demolition of the homes belonging to the two terrorists killed in the junction clash. The commander of the 101st Battalion praised his soldiers for their work throughout the operation. "The 101st Battalion has been operating in an intensive operation in Hebron over the past eight days. Today, we destroyed the homes of the terrorists who tried to harm Israeli civilians and encountered our heroic IDF soldiers.

Yesterday, we demolished monuments glorifying cursed terrorists. I am proud of you and your tireless efforts to protect the security of the State of Israel. Until victory."

Read the original article on israelnationalnews.com (opens in a new tab)
What we found (6)

Israel National News tells an eight-day offensive on Hebron as a narrow 'counterterrorism operation' against 'terrorist infrastructure'. It leaves out that, by the same week's reporting, the offensive had displaced nearly 5,000 Palestinians and seen 110 arrested. The article never uses the words Palestinian, occupied or West Bank, never names the two men whose family homes were destroyed, and places the attack at the 'Yehuda Junction' in its own voice.

  1. Uses the occupation's words

    Serious

    “completing an eight-day counterterrorism operation in the city”

    Why this matters
    In its own voice the outlet calls the eight-day assault on Hebron a 'counterterrorism operation', which is the army's term for it.
    The impression it gives
    A reader believes the week in Hebron was a targeted security action aimed only at those behind the shooting.
    The context
    Same-week reporting describes a military offensive that displaced thousands of Palestinian civilians, detained dozens and seized homes as barracks. None of that appears here.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

    “targeting terrorist infrastructure and symbols glorifying terrorists”

    Why this matters
    The outlet states the army's account of what the offensive targeted as plain fact, with no attribution.
    The impression it gives
    A reader believes the operation hit only militant infrastructure and monuments.
    The context
    Other outlets report that Israeli occupation forces seized Palestinian homes in two neighbourhoods and turned them into military barracks during the same offensive. That is not 'terrorist infrastructure'.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    Israeli occupation forces demolished the family homes of two Palestinian men accused of the shooting, on the eighth day of a military offensive in Hebron that the municipality says has displaced 4,969 Palestinians.

  2. Uses the occupation's words

    Serious

    “the Yehuda Junction in Hebron”

    Why this matters
    The outlet uses the Hebrew 'Yehuda' name for the junction in its own voice. Nowhere does it say that Hebron is in the occupied West Bank.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes Hebron as Israeli territory where the army acts as a domestic security force, not as an occupying power.
    The context
    Other coverage places the shooting at Farsh al-Hawa, at Hebron's northwestern entrance, in the occupied West Bank. The ICJ has found Israel's occupation of the West Bank unlawful.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    The shooting took place at the Farsh al-Hawa junction at the entrance to Hebron, in the occupied West Bank.

  3. Leaves out what changes the picture

    Serious

    What is missing

    The article describes the eight-day operation only as targeting terrorist infrastructure. It leaves out that the Hebron Municipality said the offensive had displaced 4,969 Palestinians from 780 families, and that 110 Palestinians were arrested in the governorate. Without this, a reader believes the operation was narrow and touched only the attackers.

    How we know

    Show where it belongs

  4. Leaves out what changes the picture

    Serious

    What is missing

    The article leaves out that before the demolitions Israeli occupation forces removed residents from the neighbourhood and declared it a closed military zone. Without this, a reader believes the demolitions affected only the two dead men.

    How we know

    Show where it belongs

  5. Writes Palestinians out of their own story

    Minor

    “Israeli forces demolished the homes of two terrorists”

    Why this matters
    The outlet reports the destruction of two homes without naming the men, without saying they were Palestinian and without mentioning anyone else who lived in or near them.
    The impression it gives
    A reader believes the demolitions touched only two dead attackers, with no Palestinian families or neighbours affected.
    The context
    Other coverage names the men as Hamouda and Ahmed al-Jaaba. It reports that residents of the neighbourhood were removed ahead of the demolitions. The word Palestinian never appears in the article.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

  6. Uses a loaded word

    Minor

    “terrorist house demolition”

    Why this matters
    The headline labels the demolished house a 'terrorist house' in the outlet's own voice.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes the home as belonging to terrorists alone, settled as fact.
    The context
    Other coverage reports the demolitions as following Israeli accusations against the two men, and the homes stood in a residential neighbourhood.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

How other outlets reported it

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