Hebron Municipality Reports 35 Hectares Destroyed as Israeli Forces Evict 1,500 Residents

Israeli military forces have systematically dismantled a residential district in the West Bank city of Hebron, resulting in the forced displacement of hundreds of households. Local Palestinian authorities characterize the operation as a retaliatory measure following a militant attack on an army checkpoint outside the city. The scale of the destruction has been substantial, with significant portions of the urban landscape reduced to rubble in the days leading up to the national vote.

The Hebron municipality provided specific figures on the extent of the damage. Officials stated that 35 hectares, equivalent to 86 acres, within the Ein Deir Baha district were either destroyed or designated for demolition. By Saturday afternoon, the city reported that approximately 1,500 residents had been compelled to leave their homes. The city, which has a population of 250,000, was placed under a complete seal, with military checkpoints established at every entry point to control movement.

Visual evidence shared by local residents documented the widespread devastation. Footage showed entire city blocks consisting of nothing but debris. In one instance, soldiers were seen marking Palestinian homes with black crosses. Another clip captured a bulldozer demolishing a stone wall on a hillside, while a third showed a large residential building draped in Israeli flags. Residents indicated that this specific building belonged to a prominent local family and had been converted into a temporary military headquarters.

The military action was triggered by an incident on Friday when two gunmen attacked an Israeli checkpoint near Hebron. A twenty-minute exchange of fire ensued, resulting in the death of two Israeli soldiers and three others sustaining injuries. Both attackers were killed during the engagement. Authorities alleged that the gunmen originated from the Ein Deir Baha district, which subsequently became the focus of the demolition campaign.

Political leaders visited the site in the final days before the election, which is scheduled for four days from the article date. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is running as part of a smaller coalition, pledged a vigorous response. Netanyahu stated that Israel would act to destroy the area. Smotrich, who was filmed in body armor near a building being demolished, ordered the immediate removal of what he described as illegal structures adjacent to the attack site. He also called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to those conducted in Gaza and Lebanon.

A spokesperson for the municipality confirmed that about 300 families had been formally evicted. Many sought refuge with friends or relatives, while the city opened community halls and children's play areas to accommodate others. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israel intends to displace an additional 2,500 people in the coming period.

Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, criticized the operation as a form of collective punishment. He noted that his sister's family was among those displaced. Amro argued that the suffering of residents was being used as political material for the upcoming elections, while innocent families bore the consequences. He expressed uncertainty about whether the actions were purely for election propaganda or part of a broader strategic plan for the post-election period.

The Israeli army was contacted for comment regarding the scope of the operations and the videos showing the extensive destruction. The operation highlights the intersection of military security, urban infrastructure, and political timing in the West Bank, raising questions about the long-term impact on the region's residential population.