Hebron Demolition Begins Amid Election Countdown
Israeli forces razed buildings in Hebron after a checkpoint ambush killed two soldiers, with voting scheduled in four days.
By Marina Weber ·
Demolition crews began tearing down Palestinian structures in the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday. The action followed a deadly ambush at a nearby checkpoint that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers.
Officials confirmed that three other soldiers were wounded in the firefight. Video footage reviewed by the BBC showed two armed men exiting a vehicle to shoot at troops before returning fire. Both gunmen were killed. The Israeli military stated that a large quantity of ammunition was found in the attackers' car. Soldiers believe the gunmen intended to strike Route 35 but engaged at the checkpoint instead.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene and declared that the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it." He referred to the neighborhood from which the attackers emerged. Netanyahu said Israel was prepared for "extensive action" in the occupied territory, drawing comparisons to previous operations in refugee camps that displaced thousands. He also revealed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades, though he did not specify a timeline.
The prime minister imposed cordons around Hebron, a city with approximately 200,000 residents, and the nearby town of Halhul. This restriction limits movement for a large population in the days leading up to the national vote.
The incident has injected tension into the upcoming election, scheduled for four days from now. Netanyahu’s Likud party cancelled campaign events planned for Friday morning. 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.
Political friction surfaced on Thursday when Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government. He claimed they would be "responsible" for any future attack after criticizing Netanyahu's pre-vote warnings. Opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the soldiers' families.
The attack occurred during a period of heightened tension in the West Bank. The United Nations reports that at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since the start of the year. Four Israelis, including security personnel and civilians, were killed by Palestinians in the same period, a count that excludes the two soldiers from the Hebron checkpoint.
