Israeli forces demolish Hebron neighbourhood, displacing approximately 1,500 Palestinians and destroying or marking for demolition 35 hectares of residential land following a deadly attack on an Israeli military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank.
The demolitions in Ein Deir Baha have left hundreds of families without homes, according to local Palestinian authorities. The operation followed an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and intensified tensions ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “act to destroy this place”, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a sweeping military campaign against Palestinian structures near the attack site.
The destruction has triggered accusations of collective punishment, with Palestinian residents and civil rights activists questioning why families unconnected to the attack are being forced from their homes.
Israeli Demolitions Displace Hundreds of Palestinian Families
The Hebron municipality estimated that approximately 35 hectares, equivalent to 86 acres, had either been destroyed or designated for destruction by Saturday afternoon.
Around 1,500 people had reportedly been forced from their homes in Ein Deir Baha, a neighbourhood in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
The municipality also reported that approximately 300 families had been evicted as Israeli forces carried out demolitions across the area.
The scale of the operation was visible in videos shared by a Hebron resident, which showed extensive destruction across several residential blocks. Houses had been flattened, while bulldozers demolished walls and other structures.
One video showed Israeli soldiers marking Palestinian houses with black crosses sprayed onto their walls. Another captured a bulldozer tearing down a stone wall on a hillside.
A large residential building was also seen displaying Israeli flags after being taken over by Israeli forces, according to the report.
Residents said the building belonged to a prominent Hebron family and had been commandeered for use as a temporary military headquarters.
Entire Residential Areas Face Destruction
The demolitions have raised serious concerns among residents about the future of their neighbourhood and the possibility of further displacement.
With multiple blocks reportedly levelled, families have been forced to search for alternative accommodation while facing uncertainty over whether their homes and surrounding properties will survive the operation.
Some displaced residents have taken refuge with friends and relatives, while the Hebron municipality has opened community halls and children’s play areas to accommodate others.
The municipality’s emergency response reflects the growing humanitarian pressure on local authorities as more families lose access to their homes.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa also reported plans to displace an additional 2,500 people, raising fears that the number of people affected could increase substantially.
The Israeli army was approached for comment on the military operation and videos showing widespread devastation, but the supplied report did not include a response.
Netanyahu Vows to Destroy the Area After Deadly Checkpoint Attack
The demolition campaign followed a deadly attack on Friday at an Israeli military checkpoint outside Hebron.
According to the report, two gunmen attacked the checkpoint, triggering a gunfight that lasted approximately 20 minutes.
Two Israeli soldiers were killed, while three others were injured. Both gunmen were also killed during the confrontation.
The attack prompted Netanyahu and Smotrich to visit the site and promise an immediate and forceful response.
Netanyahu declared that Israel would “act to destroy this place”, a statement that preceded the large-scale demolition of structures in Ein Deir Baha.
The prime minister’s remarks have become a central part of the controversy surrounding the operation, particularly as Palestinian families say they are suffering consequences for an attack they neither carried out nor supported.
The demolitions also come just four days before Israel’s elections, adding a political dimension to the military response.
Smotrich Demands Wider Military Action
Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister and a prominent figure on the country’s far-right political scene, also visited the area wearing body armour.
He filmed himself in front of a Palestinian building being demolished and said he had ordered the destruction of a wide row of structures near the attack site.
Smotrich described the buildings as “illegal Arab structures adjacent to the attack site”.
He went further by calling for “a comprehensive military campaign … exactly like in Gaza and Lebanon”.
His comments suggest support for a broader military approach, although the precise scope of any future campaign was not established in the supplied report.
Ein Deir Baha has been identified as the home district of the two gunmen, but the reported displacement of hundreds of families has prompted questions about the treatment of residents who were not involved in the attack.
The operation’s timing, just days before the election, has also fuelled concerns that the destruction could become part of Israel’s domestic political debate.
Palestinian Activist Accuses Israel of Collective Punishment
Palestinian civil rights activist Issa Amro condemned the demolitions, arguing that residents were being punished for an attack with which they had no connection.
“We are being collectively punished for something we neither did nor supported,” Amro said.
He accused Israeli political leaders of using Palestinian suffering as political material during the election campaign, while innocent families were left to bear the consequences.
“Our suffering is being turned into political material for Israel’s elections, while innocent families pay the price,” he added.
Amro also disclosed that his sister’s family was among those forced to leave their home during the operation.
His account highlights the personal consequences of the demolitions, with families facing the loss of their homes and the disruption of their daily lives.
Families Say They Had No Connection to the Attack
Amro said the scale of the displacement extended well beyond individuals directly associated with the two gunmen.
“We are talking about hundreds of families who left their homes because of this, and they are not at all connected to what happened yesterday [Friday],” he said in a telephone interview.
He added that the affected area was extensive and that residents remained uncertain about what Israeli forces intended to do next.
“It’s a very big area and we don’t know what’s going on, whether it is only election propaganda or if it’s a serious plan from decisions on what to do after the election,” Amro said.
His comments reflect residents’ uncertainty about whether the demolitions will remain limited to the immediate vicinity of the checkpoint attack or form part of a wider campaign.
The municipality’s estimate of 35 hectares destroyed or marked for destruction, alongside Wafa’s report of possible additional displacement, has intensified concerns over the operation’s eventual scale.
Hebron City Sealed Off as Security Restrictions Tighten
The demolitions have taken place alongside sweeping restrictions on movement throughout Hebron.
According to the municipality, the entire city, which has a population of approximately 250,000, was sealed off by checkpoints at every entry point.
The restrictions could complicate efforts by displaced families to reach relatives, obtain supplies and access assistance while the military operation continues.
They may also make it more difficult for residents and local authorities to assess the full extent of the destruction and identify families requiring emergency accommodation.
The situation in Ein Deir Baha remains particularly concerning because of the reported scale of demolitions and uncertainty over whether more people will be forced to leave.
The municipality’s efforts to provide shelter in community halls and children’s play areas offer temporary assistance, but they do not resolve the longer-term problem facing families whose homes have been destroyed or designated for demolition.
For affected residents, the immediate challenge is finding safe accommodation while trying to understand whether they will be able to return.
Israel’s Election Approaches Amid Rising West Bank Tensions
The operation in Hebron has unfolded against the backdrop of an approaching Israeli election, with Netanyahu and Smotrich publicly promising a severe response to the checkpoint attack.
Their statements have placed the military operation at the centre of a broader debate over security, political messaging and the treatment of Palestinian civilians.
While Israeli officials have linked the demolitions to the attack, Palestinian residents and activists argue that the consequences extend to families who had no involvement in the killings.
The destruction of residential buildings and displacement of hundreds of families have therefore raised questions about the proportionality and wider humanitarian consequences of the response.
The reported prospect of further displacement adds to those concerns, particularly if additional areas are targeted after the election.
As the situation develops, the immediate facts remain stark: two Israeli soldiers and the two attackers were killed in Friday’s confrontation, while hundreds of Palestinian families have reportedly been displaced in the subsequent operation.
The Israeli military’s response to questions about the demolitions was not included in the report, leaving important details about the operation’s scope and future plans unresolved.
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