Hebron Demolitions Displace Hundreds Ahead of Israeli Election

Key points

• Two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others at a checkpoint near Hebron on Friday; both attackers were killed during the exchange of fire.
• Israeli forces have demolished buildings and displaced between 150 and 250 families, with some estimates suggesting up to 2,000 residents affected in the Ein Dir Baha neighborhood.
• The Israeli military imposed a full closure of West Bank land crossings and banned Palestinian workers from entering settlements, effective through Tuesday’s election day.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged a strong military response, while far-right Finance Minister Bezal Smotrich ordered the demolition of structures near the attack site.
• Local Palestinian officials and activists condemned the operation as collective punishment, noting that many displaced residents had no connection to the shooting.

Background

This escalation follows a period of rising tensions in the West Bank, including a previous checkpoint shooting on October 23 that prompted initial lockdowns. The current operation occurs against the backdrop of ongoing settler violence, with Yesh Din reporting 672 incidents in a 26-day period, and follows the September pardon of Elor Azaria, a soldier convicted for shooting a wounded Palestinian in Hebron.

How outlets are covering it

Outlets vary in their assessment of the scale of displacement: Hebron’s mayor and local activist Issa Amro estimated 250 families were forced out, while Governor Khaled Dudin cited 150. The Guardian reported 35 hectares were destroyed and 1,500 people evicted, whereas BBC cited Defense Minister Israel Katz’s figure of 2,000 displaced. CNN emphasized the logistical challenge of a full West Bank closure, noting Israel lacks forces to shut down all 900+ checkpoints, while BBC focused on the ban on Palestinian workers entering settlements. The Guardian and BBC highlighted the political timing, with Hebron’s mayor accusing Netanyahu of using the crackdown for election propaganda, a view echoed by activist Amro. Conversely, Israeli officials framed the operation as a necessary security measure to locate militants and weapons, with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir describing the attack as a serious terror threat that was prevented from causing greater harm.

Why it matters

The operation intensifies the humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and tests the limits of Israeli military policy ahead of a pivotal election. It underscores the deepening divide between Israeli security hardliners and Palestinian communities, while raising questions about the use of collective punishment and the impact of political cycles on military operations in occupied territories.

What to watch

The military operation in Hebron is expected to continue for several days, with Israeli authorities maintaining that their objective is to address security threats. The full closure of West Bank crossings will remain in effect through Tuesday’s election, potentially affecting the movement of Palestinian workers and residents. Further political developments may follow as Netanyahu and his rivals campaign on security issues, and as international observers monitor the humanitarian impact of the demolitions and displacement.