Hebron residents displaced after troops clear district following checkpoint shooting

Israeli military forces have cleared a residential district in Hebron, West Bank, resulting in the displacement of approximately 1,500 people as of Saturday afternoon. Local Palestinian authorities stated that the operation, which involved the destruction of 35 hectares of land, was a direct response to a militant attack on an army checkpoint. The city, home to 250,000 residents, remains sealed off with checkpoints established at all entry points.

The primary target of the operation was the Ein Deir Baha district. The Hebron municipality reported that this area was either destroyed or marked for demolition. Residents described the scene as one of extensive devastation, with entire blocks of urban housing reduced to rubble. Video footage shared by a local resident showed soldiers marking Palestinian homes with black crosses and bulldozers pulling down stone walls on hillsides. One large residential building, reportedly belonging to a prominent local family, was draped in Israeli flags and taken over as a temporary military headquarters.

The military action followed an incident on Friday when two gunmen attacked an Israeli checkpoint outside the city. A gunfight lasting 20 minutes left two soldiers dead and three wounded. Both attackers were also killed during the exchange. Authorities alleged that the gunmen were from the Ein Deir Baha district, which served as the justification for the subsequent demolitions.

Political leaders visited the site of the attack shortly after the incident, with elections scheduled for four days later. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a fierce response, stating that Israel would act to destroy the location. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is running for election with a smaller coalition party, was filmed in body armor in front of a building as it was being demolished. He announced the immediate demolition of structures he described as illegal Arab buildings adjacent to the attack site and called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to those seen in Gaza and Lebanon.

A spokesperson for the municipality indicated that about 300 families have been formally evicted. While some residents have found temporary shelter with friends and relatives, the municipality has opened community halls and children's play areas to house others. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israel plans to displace an additional 2,500 people in the coming days. This would significantly increase the number of residents affected by the operation.

Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, criticized the scale of the response. He stated that the community is being collectively punished for an event they did not commit or support. Amro noted that his sister's family was among those forced from their homes. He argued that the suffering of innocent families is being used as political material for the upcoming elections.

In a telephone interview, Amro emphasized that hundreds of families who left their homes had no connection to the Friday attack. He expressed uncertainty about the long-term goals of the operation, questioning whether it was purely for election propaganda or part of a serious plan for the post-election period. He described the affected area as very large, making it difficult for residents to understand the full scope of the decisions being made.

The Israeli army was approached for comment regarding the operations and the videos showing widespread destruction. The timing of the demolitions, occurring just days before the national vote, has raised questions among local leaders and residents about the strategic and political motivations behind the military response. The situation remains fluid as more families are displaced and the city remains under a strict seal.

The contrast between the immediate military response and the political calendar highlights the tension in the region. While the government frames the action as a necessary security measure following a fatal attack, local officials and activists view it as a disproportionate measure that places the burden on a specific district. The coming days will likely see further developments as the election date approaches and the military continues its operations in the area.