Israel Seals Hebron and Orders Evictions After Fatal Checkpoint Shooting

Residents of Hebron and the neighboring town of Halhul will face forced displacement as part of a new Israeli military strategy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a siege on both areas on Friday. He stated that all residents from the specific neighborhoods where the attackers lived would be removed. The prime minister also pledged extensive demolition of homes in the area.

The orders followed a firefight at a temporary checkpoint outside Hebron. Two armed men, driving a vehicle with Israeli license plates, opened fire on soldiers. The conflict lasted 20 minutes, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to three others. Both gunmen were killed during the exchange. An AFP photographer who witnessed the event described seeing two Palestinian men firing an automatic rifle and a handgun at Israeli forces.

Government officials moved quickly to implement the new policies. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. He posted a video showing himself standing in front of a bulldozer destroying a Palestinian home. Smotrich said the action was intended to create deterrence and exact a price. He noted the home was built without permits, though no connection was established between the owners and the attackers.

Legal experts and activists challenged the immediate enforcement of these measures. Human rights lawyer Mohammed Dahleh filed an urgent petition with Israel's high court. The court issued a temporary order halting the demolitions shortly after work began. Dahleh argued the actions violated international law regarding collective punishment and Israeli administrative rules. He described the move as an attempt to replicate illegal practices seen in Gaza within the West Bank.

Defense Minister Israel Katz expanded on the government's intentions. He promised further mass demolitions and forced displacement in Hebron. Katz compared the situation to the Jenin refugee camp, where nearly 20,000 people have been displaced. He stated that every clan neighborhood from which terrorists emerged would be evacuated. Netanyahu said plans were drawn up for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, though no start date has been set.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the occupied West Bank. More than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since October 2023. Violence has intensified since the olive harvest began in late September. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited Hebron on Friday to demand the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority and stricter movement restrictions.

The upcoming elections on Tuesday may influence the direction of the governing coalition. Polls suggest the far-right coalition, which supports settler interests, may lose its majority. The recent events have drawn criticism from within the political sphere. The Foreign Press Association called the linking of an AFP photographer to the gunmen dangerous and defamatory. This followed a week in which settlers severely injured photographer Heidi Levine during the olive harvest.