Israel’s Home Demolitions: From Hebron Evacuations to Gaza’s Ruins
Israeli forces have intensified the destruction of Palestinian homes across the West Bank, Gaza, and southern Lebanon. In Hebron, an eight-day operation following a fatal attack on soldiers led to the forced evacuation of nearly 5,000 people and the demolition of homes linked to the perpetrators. This action follows a broader pattern of demolitions in the West Bank, where over 2,491 buildings were destroyed in the Hebron governorate since 2009. In Gaza, approximately 82% of structures have been damaged or destroyed since the war began, leaving families in tents. In southern Lebanon, 31,259 buildings have been damaged despite a ceasefire. UN agencies and legal groups describe these actions as collective punishment and potential ethnic cleansing, while Israel frames them as counterterrorism measures.