Netanyahu Orders Hebron Demolitions as Election Looms

The Israeli military has begun demolishing homes in a residential area of Hebron, displacing hundreds of Palestinians following a deadly ambush at a nearby checkpoint. Two soldiers died and three were wounded when gunmen attacked the post, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to announce a major military response. Netanyahu described the planned operation as the most extensive in the West Bank since the 1967 war. He told reporters at the attack site that Israel would completely change the location.

Bulldozers began leveling structures near the shooting scene on Friday afternoon. The military stated that soldiers were behind concrete barriers when the two attackers opened fire. A firefight continued for approximately 20 minutes before troops killed the gunmen. The Human Rights Watch organization previously labeled similar displacements in northern refugee camps as war crimes, a charge Israel rejects. The Israeli group B'Tselem urged foreign nations to intervene to stop what it called a new wave of ethnic cleansing.

The violence occurs amid rising tensions in the occupied West Bank. The United Nations Human Rights Office described the current situation as a new level of dehumanization of Palestinians. Israeli authorities have imposed widespread closures in Hebron, the region's largest city, restricting movement in and around the area. The territory is currently controlled by 925 checkpoints, roadblocks, and earth mounds that regulate traffic.

Political analysts link the scale of the military response to the national elections scheduled for October 27. Polls indicate a close race between Netanyahu and his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot. Neither leader currently commands enough support to form a government independently. Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, said Netanyahu is using the crisis to project strength to voters. He described the prime minister's strategy as positioning himself as the protector of Israel through harsh measures.

Citrinowicz characterized the eviction of families from the attackers' neighborhood as collective punishment, noting that no evidence linked the residents to the gunmen. He argued that stability requires giving the population hope rather than punishing groups without proof. The researcher suggested authorities should focus on arresting specific attackers while supporting the economic needs of those living peacefully. The military operation is set to expand in the coming weeks.