Bulldozers Clear Hebron Ahead of Election

Bulldozers began flattening homes in a Hebron neighborhood on Friday afternoon, marking the start of a major displacement effort. The action followed a shootout at a nearby checkpoint that left two Israeli soldiers dead and three others wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a military operation from the scene, describing it as a scale not seen since the 1967 Six Day War.

The military stated that soldiers were positioned behind concrete barriers when two gunmen opened fire. The engagement lasted approximately 20 minutes before troops killed the attackers. Netanyahu vowed to demolish the area and change it completely. He compared the upcoming push to last year's assault on northern West Bank refugee camps, which displaced tens of thousands. Human Rights Watch labeled those previous expulsions war crimes, a claim Israel rejects.

The demolition coincides with a surge in settler violence and land seizures across the West Bank. The United Nations Human Rights Office for the occupied Palestinian territory has described the current climate as a new level of dehumanization. Israel has imposed widespread closures in Hebron, the region's most populous city. The territory now features some 925 checkpoints, roadblocks, and earth mounds that restrict movement.

The timing aligns with national elections scheduled for October 27. Polls indicate a neck and neck race between Netanyahu and his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot. Neither candidate currently holds enough support to form a government alone. Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, noted that Netanyahu is positioning himself as the security leader. He said, "For Netanyahu, his ticket before the election is, 'I'm Mr. Security.'"

Citrinowicz criticized the eviction of families from the attackers' neighborhood, noting there is no evidence linking them to the gunmen. He termed the action collective punishment. "The way to prevent [more attacks by Palestinians] is not collective punishment. It's by giving hope," he said. He urged authorities to focus on arresting active attackers while supporting the broader population with economic stability.

The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem urged foreign governments to intervene. The organization warned of another wave of ethnic cleansing and war crimes. Analysts view the operation primarily as a political move to retain power rather than a long-term security strategy. The military continues to clear the area as the election date approaches.