Hebron municipality says 35 hectares destroyed as troops force 1,500 from homes

Israeli troops have demolished a large section of Hebron, forcing approximately 1,500 people from their homes, according to the city's municipality. The operation targeted the Ein Deir Baha district, where officials estimate 35 hectares, or 86 acres, have been destroyed or marked for demolition.

The city, which has a population of 250,000, was sealed off with checkpoints at every entry point. Local authorities described the military action as a response to a militant attack on an army checkpoint outside the city. Videos from residents showed houses reduced to rubble, soldiers marking Palestinian homes with black crosses, and a large residential building draped in Israeli flags that troops used as a temporary headquarters.

The demolitions followed a shooting on Friday in which two gunmen attacked an Israeli military checkpoint. After a 20-minute firefight, two Israeli soldiers were killed and three were wounded. Both attackers were also killed. Authorities alleged the gunmen were from the Ein Deir Baha district.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the attack site and promised a fierce response. Netanyahu stated Israel would act to destroy the location. Smotrich, who is campaigning for a smaller coalition party, filmed himself in body armor outside a building under demolition. He ordered the immediate demolition of structures he called illegal and advocated for a military campaign similar to those in Gaza and Lebanon.

A spokesperson for the Hebron municipality said about 300 families had been evicted. Some residents found shelter with relatives, while the city opened community halls and play areas for others. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israel plans to displace another 2,500 people in the coming days.

Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, criticized the operation, stating that residents were being punished for an event they did not support. Amro said his sister's family was among those displaced. He noted that hundreds of families had no connection to the attack and questioned whether the move was election propaganda or part of a long-term plan.

Israeli general elections are scheduled for four days from now. The Israeli army was contacted for comment regarding the scale of the destruction and the visual evidence provided by residents.