35 Hectares of Hebron Reduced to Rubble in Pre-Election Purge

The scale of the destruction in Hebron has drawn sharp scrutiny from residents and civil rights leaders, who argue the military response is far out of proportion to the incident that triggered it.

Local Palestinian officials in the West Bank city state that Israeli forces have demolished or marked for destruction 35 hectares of the Ein Deir Baha district. By Saturday afternoon, the municipality reported that approximately 1,500 people had been forced to leave their homes. The city, home to 250,000 residents, was placed under a strict seal, with checkpoints established at every entry point to restrict movement.

The operation began as a direct response to a violent incident on Friday when two gunmen attacked an Israeli military checkpoint outside Hebron. After a twenty minute exchange of fire, two Israeli soldiers were killed and three were wounded. Both attackers were also killed in the engagement. Authorities identified the Ein Deir Baha district as the home base of the two gunmen, which local officials say justifies the current scope of the military activity.

Visual evidence provided by residents highlights the severity of the situation. Videos show multiple urban blocks where every house has been reduced to rubble. One clip captures soldiers marking Palestinian homes with black crosses, while another shows a bulldozer dismantling a stone wall on a hillside. A large residential building, reportedly belonging to a prominent local family, was draped in Israeli flags and used as a temporary military headquarters.

The timing of the demolitions coincides with a critical moment in Israeli politics, with national elections scheduled for four days from now. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the checkpoint site and pledged a vigorous response. Netanyahu stated that Israel would act to destroy the area, while Smotrich, who is running with a smaller coalition party, was filmed in body armor during the demolition. He announced an order for the immediate removal of a row of structures adjacent to the attack site and called for a broader military campaign similar to those conducted in Gaza and Lebanon.

The human toll of the operation is significant, with a municipality spokesperson confirming that about 300 families have been formally evicted. While some residents have found temporary shelter with friends and relatives, the city has opened community halls and children's play areas to accommodate others. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that Israel intends to displace an additional 2,500 people in the coming days.

Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, criticized the operation as a form of collective punishment. He noted that his own sister's family was among those forced out. Amro argued that the suffering of innocent families is being leveraged for political gain ahead of the vote. He expressed uncertainty about the long term goals of the military, questioning whether the actions are purely for election propaganda or part of a strategic plan for the post election period.

The Israeli army has been contacted for comment regarding the specific operations in Hebron and the videos showing the widespread destruction, but no official response has yet been provided as the displacement continues.