2,500 Residents Set to Leave Hebron as Army Begins Sweep

The Israeli military has launched a major operation in Hebron, the West Bank city home to 200,000 people. Local officials say the army is demolishing homes and businesses, displacing hundreds of families. Footage from the scene shows at least one entire street leveled by bulldozers. The army sealed off the city, restricting movement for residents.

The operation began on Friday, four days before Israel's general election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the move after two Israeli soldiers were killed and three wounded by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint. Both gunmen were killed in the attack. Netanyahu stated that buildings near the checkpoint and the neighborhoods the attackers came from would be destroyed. He canceled his party's campaign events that morning and traveled to Hebron in protective armor.

Netanyahu posted a video from the site, saying forces would go house to house to remove weapons and destroy terrorist infrastructure. He also revealed he has reviewed plans for the largest West Bank military operation since 1967, though he did not specify when that would occur. In a separate interview with i24 television, he threatened the Palestinian Authority with a very big surprise. He compared the current sweep to 2025 campaigns in northern refugee camps, which displaced tens of thousands.

Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said the fighting is concentrated in the Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa neighborhoods. He reported damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Dozens of families spent the night outdoors, some without their vehicles. Houses are marked with spray paint for demolition. Al-Jaabari estimates the military aims to displace 2,500 people from roughly 0.35 square kilometers of urban land. The city governor and deputy mayor confirmed that at least 200 families have already been displaced.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a social media statement that it has dozens of targets across the West Bank and operations will last several days. Israeli rights groups have criticized the demolition of suspected attackers' homes as collective punishment. Inside the Israeli government, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign similar to those in Gaza and Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority requested urgent international action to stop further forced displacement.

Speaking to journalists, Mayor al-Jaabari said the operation was driven by the elections. He accused Netanyahu and his ministers of seeking votes from the far right and settlers. The army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The next phase of the operation is scheduled to continue for several days, with no specific end date announced.