Netanyahu Orders Hebron Demolition After Checkpoint Attack

At least 200 families lost their homes when Israeli military bulldozers leveled streets in Hebron this week. Local officials estimate that roughly 2,500 people are facing displacement from a 0.35 square kilometer area of the city.

The operation began on Friday following an attack at a checkpoint where two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others. Both gunmen were killed in the exchange. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the military response immediately after the incident. He stated that buildings near the attack site and the neighborhoods associated with the gunmen would be destroyed.

The Israel Defense Forces sealed off Hebron, limiting movement for its 200,000 residents. The army said it has dozens of targets across the West Bank and that operations will continue for several days. Footage shared online shows entire streets reduced to rubble by the heavy machinery.

Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the destruction focused on the Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa neighborhoods. He reported that dozens of families were forced to sleep outdoors. Some residents were ordered to leave without their vehicles, while others found their houses marked with spray paint for demolition.

Netanyahu traveled to Hebron on Friday wearing protective armor. He canceled his party's campaign events for the morning. The general election is scheduled for four days from now. Netanyahu posted a video from the scene where he said forces would go house to house to remove weapons and destroy terrorist infrastructure.

In an interview with i24 television released on Saturday, Netanyahu mentioned plans for the largest West Bank operation since 1967. He did not specify when that would begin but said it might be part of the current campaign. He also promised a very big surprise for the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian Authority called for urgent international action to stop forced displacement. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a campaign similar to those in Gaza or Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. Mayor al-Jaabari told journalists the operation was driven by the upcoming elections and the need to secure far-right and settler votes.