200,000 Residents Cordonned as Demolition Begins in Hebron
Israeli forces are tearing down structures in a Hebron neighborhood after two soldiers were killed at a checkpoint, a move occurring four days before a national election.
By Amina Kaminski ·
Residents of Hebron and the nearby town of Halhul face new military restrictions as Israeli forces began demolishing Palestinian buildings in the West Bank city. The action follows an ambush at a checkpoint outside Hebron where two Israeli soldiers were shot dead and three others were wounded. Both Palestinian attackers were killed in the ensuing gun battle.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated from the scene that the military would demolish the specific neighborhood from which the gunmen emerged. He described the plan as a complete transformation of the area and said Israel was prepared for extensive operations in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu compared these measures to previous actions in West Bank refugee camps, where residential buildings were destroyed and thousands of people were displaced.
The Prime Minister also announced that he had reviewed plans for what he called the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades, though he did not specify a timeline. He confirmed that military cordons have been imposed around Hebron, a city with a population of approximately 200,000, and the neighboring city of Halhul.
The Israeli military reported finding a large quantity of ammunition in the vehicle used by the attackers. Officials believe the gunmen intended to launch a larger assault on Route 35 but began firing when they encountered the checkpoint. Video footage shows the two men exiting a car armed with a handgun and an assault rifle before opening fire on the soldiers.
The incident has intensified the political campaign ahead of elections scheduled for four days from now. Netanyahu’s Likud party canceled campaign events planned for Friday morning. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank similar to those in Gaza and Lebanon, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.
Tensions in the West Bank have been high during the annual olive harvest, with extremist Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians. According to the United Nations, at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the territory since the start of the year. During that same period, four Israelis were killed by Palestinians in the West Bank, a count that does not include the two soldiers from the latest checkpoint attack.
