Hebron Residents Displaced After Demolition Following Checkpoint Attack

Israeli forces have razed a district in the West Bank city of Hebron, displacing residents in what local officials describe as a retaliatory measure.

The Hebron municipality stated that 35 hectares of the Ein Deir Baha district were either destroyed or flagged for demolition. By Saturday afternoon, the city reported that approximately 1,500 individuals had been forced to leave their homes. The municipality noted that the city of 250,000 residents was sealed off, with military checkpoints established at every entry point.

The operation followed a Friday attack on a military outpost outside the city. Two gunmen engaged Israeli soldiers in a 20-minute firefight that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and the wounding of three. Both attackers were also killed during the engagement. Authorities identified the Ein Deir Baha district as the home base of the gunmen.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the checkpoint site and pledged a forceful response. Netanyahu stated that Israel would "act to destroy this place." Smotrich, who is running for election with a smaller coalition, announced the immediate demolition of structures adjacent to the attack site. He also called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Smotrich was filmed wearing body armor in front of a building as it was being leveled.

Resident videos documented the extent of the damage, showing houses reduced to rubble and soldiers marking buildings with black crosses. One clip displayed a large residential building draped in Israeli flags, which residents identified as the temporary headquarters of a prominent local family. A municipality spokesperson confirmed that roughly 300 families had been evicted. The agency Wafa reported that Israeli plans include displacing an additional 2,500 people. The municipality has opened community halls and children's play areas to shelter those who have lost their homes.

Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, described the operation as collective punishment. He stated that his sister's family was among those displaced and that the suffering of residents was being used as political material for the upcoming elections. Amro noted uncertainty about whether the demolitions were driven by election propaganda or long-term strategic planning.

The Israeli army was contacted for comment regarding the operation and the visual evidence of the destruction. No response was received at the time of reporting.