Hebron District Flattened as 1,500 Residents Flee Ahead of Israeli Vote

Israeli forces demolished entire blocks of housing in Hebron, West Bank, displacing approximately 1,500 residents by Saturday afternoon.

The Hebron municipality reported that 35 hectares, equivalent to 86 acres, in the Ein Deir Baha district were destroyed or marked for destruction. The city, home to 250,000 people, was sealed off with checkpoints at every entry point. Local officials described the operation as a response to a militant attack on an army checkpoint.

Video footage from a resident showed extensive damage across several urban blocks. Soldiers were seen spraying black crosses on houses and using bulldozers to pull down stone walls. One large residential building was draped in Israeli flags and used as a temporary military headquarters. Residents indicated the building belonged to a prominent local family.

The destruction followed a gunfight on Friday at a checkpoint outside Hebron. Two gunmen attacked the post, resulting in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and three wounded. Both attackers were killed. Israeli leaders visited the site and vowed a strong response.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would act to destroy the area. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is running for election in a smaller coalition party, ordered the immediate demolition of structures adjacent to the attack site. He filmed himself in body armor during the operation and called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to those in Gaza and Lebanon.

A municipality spokesperson confirmed that about 300 families were evicted. The city opened community halls and play areas to house displaced residents. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israel plans to displace an additional 2,500 people. Civil rights activist Issa Amro, whose sister's family was displaced, said the area was being punished for an attack many did not support.

Amro described the operation as political material for the election due in four days. He noted that hundreds of families with no connection to the attack were forced to leave their homes. The Israeli army was approached for comment on the widespread destruction shown in the videos.