Hebron Scaled Back After Checkpoint Shooting

Israeli military forces have demolished homes and businesses in Hebron, displacing hundreds of families just days before the national election. Local officials confirmed that at least 200 families have been forced from their homes in the occupied West Bank city.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the operation on Friday after two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint. Three other soldiers were wounded in the attack, and both gunmen were killed. Netanyahu stated that buildings near the attack site and the neighborhoods where the gunmen originated would be destroyed.

The army sealed off Hebron, restricting movement for its 200,000 residents. Footage online showed bulldozers leveling entire streets. The Israel Defense Forces said in a social media post that it had dozens of targets across the West Bank and that operations would continue for several days.

Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the operation focused on the Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa neighborhoods. He reported that dozens of families spent the night outdoors, some without their vehicles, while houses were marked for demolition with spray paint. Al-Jaabari estimates the military intends to displace 2,500 people from roughly 0.35 square kilometers of urban land.

Netanyahu cancelled his party's campaign events for Friday morning and traveled to Hebron wearing protective armor. He told residents they would be evacuated house by house to remove weapons and destroy terrorist infrastructure. He also mentioned plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, though he did not specify when it would begin.

The timing of the sweep has drawn criticism. Al-Jaabari told journalists that the operation was driven by the elections, arguing that Netanyahu and his ministers were seeking votes from the far right and settlers. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign similar to those in Gaza and Lebanon, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian Authority called for urgent international action beyond condemnation to prevent further forced displacement. Netanyahu compared the current efforts to earlier 2025 campaigns in northern refugee camps, where tens of thousands were displaced. It remains unclear if the Hebron sweep is part of the larger operation Netanyahu referenced.