Hebron Demolitions Start as Netanyahu Preps Major West Bank Operation

Demolition crews began tearing down Palestinian structures in Hebron on Thursday.

The operation followed a shootout at a checkpoint outside the city where two Israeli soldiers were killed and three were wounded. Both gunmen involved in the attack were shot dead. Video reviewed by BBC News shows the men exiting a vehicle armed with a handgun and an assault rifle before engaging the soldiers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the area and stated the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it." He referred to the neighborhood from which the attackers reportedly emerged. The premier said Israel was prepared for "extensive action" in the West Bank, drawing comparisons to prior operations in refugee camps that displaced thousands. He confirmed that cordons had been placed around Hebron and the nearby city of Halhul.

Netanyahu revealed he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades. He did not specify a timeline for its launch. The Israeli military reported finding a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. Officials believe the gunmen intended to strike Route 35 but began firing at the checkpoint instead.

Israeli rights groups have long criticized the practice of demolishing homes of suspected attackers as collective punishment. The attack has influenced the national election campaign, which is in its final days. The Likud party canceled campaign events scheduled for Friday morning. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank similar to those in Gaza and Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government by criticizing Netanyahu's pre-election security warnings. He said they would be "responsible" for future attacks. Opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers.

Tensions in the West Bank have risen during the olive harvest season. According to the UN, at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the territory since January 1. Four Israelis have been killed by Palestinians during the same period, a count that excludes the two soldiers killed in the latest checkpoint ambush.