35 Hectares Wiped Out in Hebron as Israeli Election Nears

Thirty-five hectares of the Ein Deir Baha district in Hebron have been destroyed or marked for demolition, according to the local municipality. The sweeping operation forced approximately 1,500 people from their homes by Saturday afternoon, effectively sealing the city of 250,000 behind a perimeter of military checkpoints.

Palestinian officials described the action as collective punishment for a Friday attack on an Israeli army checkpoint outside the city. Two gunmen opened fire on the post, triggering a 20 minute gunfight that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three. Both attackers were killed during the exchange. Military authorities alleged the gunmen originated from the Ein Deir Baha district, which now lies in ruins.

Residents documented the destruction on video. Clips show soldiers marking Palestinian houses with black crosses and bulldozers dismantling stone walls on hillside slopes. One footage captures a large residential building covered in Israeli flags. Locals identified the property as the home of a prominent Hebron family that troops converted into a temporary headquarters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich inspected the checkpoint site and vowed a fierce response. Netanyahu stated that Israel would act to destroy the location. Smotrich, who is running for office with a smaller coalition party, appeared on camera in body armor while a nearby structure was leveled. He ordered the immediate demolition of a wide row of structures adjacent to the attack site and called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

A municipality spokesperson confirmed that roughly 300 families have been evicted. Some residents have moved in with relatives, while others are staying in community halls and play areas opened by local authorities. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli plans include displacing an additional 2,500 people from the area.

Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, said his sister’s family was among those driven out. He argued that the district was being used as political material for the upcoming election. Amro noted that hundreds of families displaced had no connection to the Friday shooting. He questioned whether the operation was purely election propaganda or part of a longer term strategy for the post election period.

The Israeli army did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the scope of the demolition or the videos showing widespread damage. The national vote is scheduled to take place in four days.