Hebron Demolition Displaces 1,500 as Election Nears

Israeli elections are set to take place in four days, creating a tense backdrop for the latest military operation in the West Bank. Troops in the city of Hebron have demolished a residential district, displacing residents in what local officials describe as a direct response to a recent attack on a military checkpoint.

The Hebron municipality estimated that 35 hectares, or 86 acres, of the Ein Deir Baha district were destroyed or marked for destruction. By Saturday afternoon, the city reported that approximately 1,500 people had been forced from their homes. The municipality noted that about 300 families were evicted, with some relocating to stay with relatives and others housed in community halls.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the checkpoint site following the Friday attack, which left two Israeli soldiers dead and three wounded. Netanyahu stated that Israel would act to destroy the area. Smotrich, who is running for election, ordered the immediate demolition of structures adjacent to the attack site and called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

A municipality spokesperson said the city, with a population of 250,000, was sealed off with checkpoints at every entry point. Residents shared video evidence showing extensive damage, including houses reduced to rubble and soldiers marking buildings with black crosses. One clip showed a large residential building draped in Israeli flags, which residents said had been taken over as a temporary military headquarters.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israel plans to displace a further 2,500 people in the coming days. Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, said his sister's family was among those driven from their homes. He described the operation as collective punishment, noting that many displaced families had no connection to the two gunmen killed during the checkpoint exchange.

Amro questioned whether the demolitions were primarily for election propaganda or part of a longer-term strategic plan. He said the scale of the displacement was affecting a very large area of the city. The Israeli army was contacted for comment on the operations and the videos showing the destruction but did not immediately respond.