Hebron demolitions by Israeli troops leave hundreds of Palestinians displaced

Israeli forces have carried out widespread demolitions of residential properties and commercial premises across Hebron in the occupied West Bank, leaving hundreds of Palestinian residents displaced, according to municipal authorities.

The military operation began after two Palestinian attackers fatally shot two Israeli soldiers and injured three others at a checkpoint on Friday. Both gunmen were also killed in the incident. In the immediate aftermath, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that structures adjacent to the checkpoint and within the attackers' home neighbourhoods would be destroyed.

Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari stated that the demolitions have forced more than 1,000 residents out of their homes, focusing primarily on the districts of Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa. The action damaged houses, commercial facilities, industrial zones, and basic infrastructure. Local officials noted that dozens of households had to sleep outdoors overnight, with military personnel instructing some people to leave their vehicles behind as properties were spray-painted for destruction. The city's deputy mayor and governor estimated that at least 200 families have been uprooted, while the mayor cautioned that evictions could ultimately reach 2,500 people across roughly 0.35 square kilometres.

In addition to the demolitions, the military sealed off the municipality, placing strict travel limitations on its roughly 200,000 inhabitants. Video circulating online showed bulldozers flattening extensive areas, including an entire street.

The Israel Defense Forces stated via social media that the campaign covers dozens of objectives throughout the West Bank and is scheduled to continue over several days. The military did not immediately answer direct inquiries for comment, according to BBC News.

Israel has routinely razed the residences of Palestinians accused of executing attacks against Israelis, drawing recurring condemnation from human rights organizations that classify the policy as illegal collective punishment. Netanyahu compared the current actions in Hebron to previous large-scale operations conducted in northern West Bank refugee camps during 2025.

The surge in violence comes just four days before Israel holds a general election. Netanyahu, who has anchored his re-election platform on national security, cancelled his Friday morning campaign stops, visited Hebron in protective gear, and published video remarks online promising house-to-house searches to uncover weapons and demolish militant infrastructure. He also revealed he had examined proposals for the most extensive military campaign in the West Bank since 1967, though he provided no specific timeline.

In an interview broadcast by Israeli network i24, Netanyahu warned of an impending major surprise targeting the Palestinian Authority. Far-right cabinet allies voiced even harsher stances, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urging military operations comparable to those in Gaza or Lebanon, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir advocating for the dismantlement of the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinian Authority appealed for immediate international intervention beyond mere statements of condemnation to halt further displacement. Mayor al-Jaabari characterised the military push as politically motivated, arguing that the leadership is using the demolitions to consolidate support among far-right and settler constituencies ahead of the vote.