IDF Levels Hebron Streets, Displacing Hundreds Before Election

Israeli forces demolished 0.35 square kilometers of urban land in Hebron on Friday, displacing hundreds of families four days before the general election. Local officials confirmed that bulldozers leveled entire streets, forcing dozens of residents to sleep outdoors without their vehicles. The military sealed off the city, restricting movement for its 200,000 inhabitants.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the operation on Friday following an attack on a checkpoint where two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded. Both Palestinian gunmen were killed in the raid. Netanyahu stated that buildings near the attack site and the neighborhoods associated with the attackers would be destroyed. He cancelled his party's morning campaign events to travel to Hebron wearing protective armor.

Netanyahu posted a video from the scene, outlining a plan to evacuate residents, search houses for weapons, and dismantle terrorist infrastructure. He also referenced plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, though he did not specify a timeline for that broader campaign.

Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the destruction targeted the Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa neighborhoods. He reported that the military marked houses with spray paint and ordered families to leave. The city's governor and deputy mayor stated that at least 200 families had been displaced. Al-Jaabari estimated the operation aims to displace 2,500 people.

The timing of the demolitions has drawn political attention. Al-Jaabari told journalists that the operation was driven by the upcoming vote, arguing that Netanyahu and his cabinet were seeking to secure votes from the far right and settlers. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged for a campaign similar to those in Gaza or Lebanon, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian Authority requested urgent international action to prevent further forced displacement. Israeli rights groups have long criticized the demolition of homes as collective punishment. The Israel Defense Forces said in a social media statement that it had dozens of targets across the West Bank and that operations would continue for several days.