Netanyahu Orders Hebron District Flattened Ahead of Election

Israeli forces leveled the Ein Deir Baha district in Hebron, displacing approximately 1,500 residents as national elections approach in four days. Local authorities stated the operation serves as a response to a militant attack on a nearby checkpoint. The Hebron municipality estimated that 35 hectares, or 86 acres, of the area were destroyed or marked for demolition by Saturday afternoon.

The city of Hebron, home to 250,000 residents, was sealed off with checkpoints at every entry point. A municipality spokesperson confirmed that about 300 families were evicted from their homes. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israel intends to displace an additional 2,500 people from the area. Some displaced residents found shelter with relatives, while the municipality opened community halls and children's play areas for others.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the site of the initial attack. Netanyahu stated that Israel would act to destroy the location. Smotrich, who is running for office with a smaller coalition party, was filmed in body armor during the demolitions. He announced an order for the immediate demolition of a row of structures adjacent to the attack site. He also called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

The demolitions followed a Friday attack by two gunmen on an Israeli military checkpoint outside Hebron. A 20-minute gunfight resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and the wounding of three others. Both attackers were killed during the engagement. Local officials identified Ein Deir Baha as the home district of the gunmen.

Residents shared videos showing widespread devastation in the district. Clips depicted soldiers marking Palestinian houses with black crosses and bulldozers removing stone walls. One video showed a large residential building draped in Israeli flags. Residents stated the building belonged to a prominent local family and had been converted into a temporary military headquarters.

Issa Amro, a Hebron civil rights activist, criticized the operation as collective punishment. He said his sister's family was among those forced to leave. Amro described the displacement of hundreds of families with no link to the attack. He noted uncertainty about whether the action was purely for election propaganda or part of a long-term post-election strategy. The Israeli army was contacted for comment on the operations and the destruction shown in resident videos.

The destruction of 35 hectares represents a major shift in the district's infrastructure. The Hebron municipality continues to manage the logistics of housing displaced families in public buildings. The timeline for the next phase of displacement remains tied to the upcoming election cycle.