35 Hectares of Hebron Flattened as 1,500 Residents Displaced

Israeli military forces dismantled a residential neighborhood in the West Bank city of Hebron, forcing approximately 1,500 residents from their homes, according to the local municipality. The operation targeted the Ein Deir Baha district, where officials estimated that 35 hectares, or 86 acres, of land had been destroyed or marked for demolition by Saturday afternoon.

The military action followed a Friday attack by two gunmen on an Israeli checkpoint outside the city. A 20-minute exchange of fire resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and the wounding of three others. Both attackers were killed during the engagement. Hebron authorities identified Ein Deir Baha as the home district of the two gunmen.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the checkpoint site and pledged a vigorous response. Netanyahu stated that Israel would "act to destroy this place." Smotrich, who is running in the upcoming election with a smaller coalition party, ordered the "immediate demolition of a wide row of illegal Arab structures adjacent to the attack site." He also called for a "comprehensive military campaign" similar to operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Smotrich was filmed in body armor while overseeing the demolition of a Palestinian building.

Resident videos showed the extent of the damage, including houses reduced to rubble, soldiers painting black crosses on walls, and a bulldozer collapsing a hillside stone structure. One large residential building, which residents said belonged to a prominent local family, was draped in Israeli flags and used as a temporary military headquarters. The city of 250,000 was sealed off with checkpoints at all entry points.

A municipality spokesperson reported that about 300 families had been evicted. While some sought shelter with relatives, the city opened community halls and children's play areas to house others. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli plans include displacing an additional 2,500 people. Issa Amro, a civil rights activist whose sister's family was displaced, criticized the operation as collective punishment. He stated, "Our suffering is being turned into political material for Israel's elections, while innocent families pay the price."

Amro told reporters in a telephone interview that many displaced families had no connection to the Friday attack. He expressed uncertainty about whether the operation was primarily election propaganda or part of a post-election strategy. Israeli elections are scheduled to take place in four days. The Israeli army was approached for comment on the operation and the video evidence of the destruction.