Hebron residents displaced after two-day demolition operation

Israeli military forces have leveled 35 hectares of the Ein Deir Baha district in Hebron, displacing approximately 1,500 residents as of Saturday afternoon. The Hebron municipality stated that the area was either destroyed or marked for destruction during a two-day operation. The city, which has a population of 250,000, was sealed off with checkpoints established at every entry point.

The operations began after two gunmen attacked an Israeli military checkpoint outside Hebron on Friday. A 20-minute firefight resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and three gunmen, with three soldiers wounded. Military officials identified the Ein Deir Baha district as the home of the attackers. Local authorities described the subsequent demolitions as collective punishment for the incident.

Residents submitted video evidence showing widespread damage across multiple urban blocks. Footage captured soldiers marking Palestinian homes with black crosses and bulldozers removing stone walls on a hillside. One large residential building, reportedly owned by a prominent local family, was draped in Israeli flags and converted into a temporary military headquarters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the attack site and pledged a rapid response. Netanyahu stated that Israel would act to destroy the location. Smotrich, who is running for election with a smaller coalition party, was filmed in body armor near a demolition site. He announced the immediate destruction of a row of structures he deemed illegal and called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to those conducted in Gaza and Lebanon.

Issa Amro, a Hebron civil rights activist, criticized the operation. He stated that the community was being punished for actions they did not commit or support. Amro noted that his sister’s family was among those displaced. He questioned whether the destruction was intended as election propaganda or part of a longer-term strategy.

The municipality reported that about 300 families were evicted from their homes. Many residents sought shelter with friends and relatives, while the city opened community halls and children’s play areas to accommodate others. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israel plans to displace an additional 2,500 people. Israeli elections are scheduled to take place in four days.

The Israeli army was contacted for comment regarding the scale of the demolition and the specific targets selected during the operation.