Israeli military operations in the West Bank city of Hebron have resulted in the demolition of a significant residential area, displacing hundreds of Palestinian families in what local authorities describe as collective punishment following a deadly attack on an Israeli checkpoint.
The Hebron municipality reported that approximately 35 hectares of land were destroyed or marked for demolition, with around 1,500 residents evacuated from their homes in the Ein Deir Baha district by Saturday afternoon. The entire city, home to roughly 250,000 people, was placed under lockdown with checkpoints established at all entry points.
Videos obtained from local residents depicted extensive damage across multiple city blocks, with buildings reduced to rubble. Footage also showed Israeli soldiers marking Palestinian homes with spray-painted crosses and armored vehicles carrying out demolitions. A prominent Hebron family’s residence was reportedly converted into a temporary military base, with the structure decorated with Israeli flags.
These large-scale demolitions came in response to a Friday attack on an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron, where two gunmen engaged in a 20-minute firefight that left two Israeli soldiers dead and three others injured. Both attackers were also killed during the exchange.
The incident occurred just four days ahead of Israel’s scheduled elections, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to visit the attack site, where they pledged a severe response. Netanyahu vowed to “destroy this place,” while Smotrich, who is campaigning as part of a smaller coalition party, publicly endorsed the immediate demolition of what he termed “illegal Arab structures” near the location of the attack.
Smotrich further advocated for a broad military operation, drawing comparisons to Israel’s previous conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. The targeted area, Ein Deir Baha, is believed to be the hometown of the two individuals responsible for the checkpoint attack.
According to a spokesperson from the Hebron municipality, roughly 300 families were displaced, with many seeking temporary shelter in the homes of relatives or friends. Local authorities opened public facilities, including community centers and youth recreational spaces, to accommodate those affected.
Palestinian media outlet Wafa reported that Israeli forces may be preparing to displace an additional 2,500 individuals. Civil rights activist Issa Amro criticized the actions as collective punishment, stating, “We are being penalized for something we neither committed nor endorsed. Our hardship is being exploited for electoral gain while innocent families suffer the consequences.”
Amro, whose sister’s family was among those evicted, emphasized that the displaced residents had no connection to the recent violence: “We’re talking about hundreds of families forced from their homes due to events that occurred elsewhere. This is a vast area, and we’re uncertain whether this represents mere election-related posturing or part of a broader post-election strategy.”
The Israeli Defense Forces have not responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing operations or the graphic footage documenting the aftermath of the demolitions.
