2,500 Hebron Residents Face Displacement as Army Begins Demolition
Prime Minister Netanyahu launched the operation four days before the general election, citing a recent attack on a checkpoint.
By Chioma Kuznetsov ·
Israeli forces have begun a major demolition campaign in Hebron, displacing hundreds of families just four days before the national vote. Local officials reported that the military has sealed off the city, restricting the movement of its 200,000 residents. Footage circulated online showed bulldozers leveling entire streets, with at least one block completely destroyed. The Israel Defense Forces stated in a social media post that it has dozens of targets across the West Bank and that operations will continue for several days.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the operation on Friday following an attack on a checkpoint where two Israeli soldiers were killed and three were wounded. Both Palestinian gunmen involved in the shooting were killed during the incident. Netanyahu declared that buildings near the attack site and the neighborhoods the gunmen originated from would be destroyed. He traveled to Hebron on Friday morning wearing protective armor and canceled his party's campaign events for that morning.
Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the operation is focused on the Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa neighborhoods. He reported that the military has hit homes, businesses, and industrial sites. Dozens of families were forced to sleep outdoors after being told to leave their vehicles behind. Houses are marked for demolition with spray paint. The mayor believes the military intends to displace 2,500 people from an area covering roughly 0.35 square kilometers. The city's governor and deputy mayor confirmed that at least 200 families have already been displaced.
Demolishing the homes of Palestinians suspected in attacks is a common practice in the West Bank, though Israeli rights groups have criticized it as collective punishment. Netanyahu compared the current operation to earlier campaigns in northern refugee camps in 2025, where the military destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced tens of thousands. He also mentioned reviewing plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, though he did not specify a timeline for that larger campaign.
The timing has drawn political attention. In an interview with i24 television, Netanyahu threatened a very big surprise for the Palestinian Authority. The authority called for urgent international action beyond condemnation to stop the forced displacement. Within the Israeli cabinet, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a campaign similar to those in Gaza or Lebanon, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.
Mayor al-Jaabari accused the government of using the crisis for political gain. He said the operation is driven by the elections and that Netanyahu and his ministers are attempting to secure votes from the far right and settlers. The general election is scheduled for this week, with counting expected to conclude by the end of the month.
