Troops Raze Hebron District, Displacing 1,500 Residents Ahead of Vote

Israeli forces flattened a residential district in the West Bank city of Hebron, forcing approximately 1,500 residents from their homes in an operation local officials described as collective punishment. The Hebron municipality stated that 35 hectares, or 86 acres, in the Ein Deir Baha district were destroyed or marked for demolition by Saturday afternoon. The city, which has a population of 250,000, was sealed off with checkpoints at every entry point.

The destruction followed a gunfight on Friday at an Israeli military checkpoint outside Hebron. Two gunmen attacked the post, killing two soldiers and wounding three. Both attackers were also killed in the 20-minute exchange. The Ein Deir Baha district was identified as the home area for the gunmen, leading to the current military response.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the checkpoint site and pledged a fierce reaction. Netanyahu stated that Israel would "act to destroy this place." Smotrich, who is running for election with a smaller coalition party, was filmed in body armor in front of a building being demolished. He announced the "immediate demolition of a wide row of illegal Arab structures" near the attack site and called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to those conducted in Gaza and Lebanon.

Videos from the scene showed extensive damage, with several urban blocks reduced to rubble. One clip displayed soldiers marking Palestinian houses with black crosses, while another showed a bulldozer removing a stone wall on a hillside. Residents reported that a large residential building, belonging to a prominent local family, was draped in Israeli flags and used as a temporary military headquarters.

A municipality spokesperson confirmed that about 300 families were evicted. While some residents found shelter with relatives, the city opened community halls and children's play areas for others. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli authorities plan to displace an additional 2,500 people in the coming days.

Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, criticized the operation, stating that his sister's family was among those displaced. He said, "We are being collectively punished for something we neither did nor supported." Amro noted that the timing aligns with the national elections scheduled for four days from now, suggesting the destruction serves as political material while innocent families bear the cost.

The Israeli army was contacted for comment regarding the scope of the operations and the videos showing widespread destruction. No statement was provided before the deadline.