Israel Demolishes Hebron Homes After Two Soldiers Killed at Checkpoint
Netanyahu orders the razing of a neighborhood and cordons off 200,000 residents four days before the national vote.
By Alina Carter ·
Israeli demolition crews began tearing down structures in the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday. The operation follows a deadly ambush at a nearby checkpoint that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the demolition order from the scene. He stated that the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it." The target is the Hebron neighborhood where the attackers are believed to have originated. Netanyahu said Israel was ready for "extensive action" in the territory, citing previous operations in refugee camps that displaced thousands.
The checkpoint shooting occurred when two Palestinian gunmen exited a vehicle armed with a handgun and an assault rifle. They opened fire on soldiers before being killed in return fire. Verified footage shows an intense exchange between the two groups. Military officials said the attackers' vehicle contained a large quantity of ammunition. The military believes the gunmen intended to attack Route 35 but encountered the checkpoint first.
Netanyahu also imposed cordons around Hebron and the nearby city of Halhul. These restrictions isolate approximately 200,000 residents. The Prime Minister said he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades, though he did not provide a timeline for when it might begin.
The incident has intensified the election campaign. Israel votes in four days. Netanyahu’s Likud party canceled Friday morning campaign events. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank "exactly like in Gaza or 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 pre-vote warnings. He said they would be "responsible" for any future attack. Opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the families of the dead soldiers.
The UN reports that at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the year. Four Israelis have been killed by Palestinians in the same period. The latest death toll does not include the two soldiers killed in the checkpoint ambush.
