Hebron Neighbourhood Flattened Before Vote

Israeli troops levelled a residential district in Hebron, displacing hundreds of families, according to local municipal officials. The operation targeted the Ein Deir Baha area, where authorities stated that 35 hectares, equivalent to 86 acres, were either destroyed or marked for demolition. By Saturday afternoon, the municipality reported that approximately 1,500 people had been forced from their homes. The city, which holds a population of 250,000, was sealed off with checkpoints established at every entry point.

Local residents provided video footage documenting the extent of the damage. The clips showed urban blocks reduced to rubble and soldiers marking Palestinian houses with black crosses. One recording captured a bulldozer dismantling a stone wall on a hillside. Another showed a large residential building draped in Israeli flags. Residents identified that building as the property of a prominent family, which they said was being used as a temporary military headquarters.

The demolitions followed a two-man attack on Friday at an Israeli military checkpoint outside the city. After a 20-minute exchange of gunfire, two Israeli soldiers were killed and three were wounded. Both gunmen were also killed during the engagement. Authorities alleged that the attackers were from the Ein Deir Baha district, which became the focus of the subsequent military operation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the checkpoint site following the attack. Both leaders promised a fierce response ahead of national elections scheduled for four days. Netanyahu stated that Israel would act to destroy the location. Smotrich, who is running for election with a smaller coalition party, was filmed in body armour while standing in front of a building under demolition. He announced an order for the immediate demolition of structures adjacent to the attack site and called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

A spokesperson for the Hebron municipality said roughly 300 families had been evicted. Some residents found shelter with friends and relatives, while the municipality opened community halls and children's play areas to house others. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israel plans to displace an additional 2,500 people from the area.

Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, condemned the operation as collective punishment. He stated that the community was being punished for an attack it did not support. Amro noted that his sister's family was among those driven from their homes. In a telephone interview, he said the area is large and many displaced families had no connection to the Friday attack. He questioned whether the action was primarily for election propaganda or part of a longer-term plan.

The Israeli army was approached for comment on the operations and the videos showing widespread destruction. No statement was provided at the time of reporting.