Over 550 Palestinian policemen and officers deployed in Hebron early Saturday morning as part of a measure President Mahmoud Abbas hopes will strengthen his control over the West Bank.

Hebron is the third in the West Bank to be reinforced with forces loyal to Abbas.

Their mission will be to focus on reclaiming law and order, but also to tackle Hamas infrastructure in the area. 

Hebron is the West Bank's largest city and considered a stronghold of the militant Islamic Hamas movement. Hamas seized Gaza by force in June 2007 and Abbas wants to prevent a repeat in the West Bank. Hebron is also known for a Jewish community numbering around 500 residents, living under Israel Defense Forces protection among hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.