Israeli forces raze Hebron neighbourhood and displace hundreds after deadly attack
Israeli troops have flattened rows of buildings and cordoned off the West Bank city after two soldiers were killed in a checkpoint shooting.
Israeli forces have launched a sweeping military operation in Hebron, razing blocks of homes and businesses and forcing hundreds of Palestinian families out of the West Bank city.
The operation follows a shooting at an army checkpoint outside Hebron on Friday, where two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others before being shot dead. In response, Israeli troops cordoned off the entire city of 250,000 residents and moved heavy military bulldozers into the Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa districts.
Witnesses reported that soldiers marked targeted residential properties with sprayed crosses before flattening entire blocks. Palestinian municipal authorities said displaced families were forced to take refuge in community halls, children's play areas, or with relatives after being ordered out of their homes, in some cases without their vehicles or personal belongings.
Differing estimates of the Hebron demolitions
Official accounts from Israeli authorities and Palestinian municipal leaders present varying figures regarding the scale of the displacements and demolitions in the city.
| Authority | Displaced residents | Area affected | Primary stated reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Israeli Defence Ministry | 2,000 (planning up to 2,500) | 0.35 sq km | Removing attack infrastructure and suspect clan area |
| Hebron Municipality | 1,500 (about 300 families) | 35 hectares | Demolitions and collective punishment ahead of elections |
| Israel Defense Forces | Unspecified | Specific target blocks | Removing illegal structures and security risks |
Politics and local impact
The offensive comes four days before Israel's general election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich both visited the site wearing protective body armour. Netanyahu stated that Israeli troops would search house by house to clear weapons and destroy local militant infrastructure. In a televised interview, he also warned of a major action targeting the Palestinian Authority.
Smotrich called for an immediate wide-scale military campaign across the West Bank similar to operations in Gaza and Lebanon, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the complete dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.
Local Palestinian leaders rejected the military's justification for the destruction. Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the operation was timed to rally far-right and settler support for the upcoming election. Civil rights activist Issa Amro, whose family was among those displaced, said hundreds of residents with no connection to Friday's attack were paying the price for political campaigning.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Israeli soldiers killed | 2 | Israeli military |
| Israeli soldiers injured | 3 | Israeli military |
| Displaced residents estimated by Defence Minister | 2,000 | Israel Katz |
| Displaced families estimated by municipality | 300 | Hebron Municipality |
| Area targeted for destruction | 35 hectares | Hebron Municipality |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Israel Defense Forces | Israeli military conducting the demolitions and checkpoints. |
| Benjamin Netanyahu | Prime Minister of Israel who ordered the destruction of infrastructure around the attack site. |
| Hebron | West Bank city where Israeli forces launched demolitions and blockade. |
