200,000 residents isolated as Hebron demolition begins

Israeli forces began tearing down Palestinian buildings in Hebron on Thursday. The operation targets the Hura neighborhood, the area where two gunmen emerged to attack a military checkpoint. Both attackers were killed in the exchange of fire, which also wounded three soldiers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the plan from the scene. He stated that the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it." Netanyahu compared the move to previous operations in refugee camps that displaced thousands of residents. He indicated that Israel was prepared for "extensive action" in the West Bank.

Authorities imposed cordons around Hebron and the nearby city of Halhul. Hebron is home to approximately 200,000 people. Netanyahu said he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the region in decades, though he did not specify a timeline for that expansion.

The military recovered a large amount of ammunition from the attackers' vehicle. Officials believe the gunmen intended to strike Route 35, a major highway, but encountered the checkpoint first. Verified video footage shows the two men exiting their car with a handgun and an assault rifle before opening fire.

Israeli rights groups have historically described such demolitions as collective punishment. The practice of destroying homes suspected of sheltering attackers is common among Israeli forces. The current conflict coincides with the annual olive harvest, a time of heightened tension between settlers and Palestinians.

Unanimity broke down within the government on Thursday. Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government by criticizing Netanyahu's pre-attack warnings. He claimed they would be "responsible" for any future incidents. Opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the soldiers' families.

Far-right leaders seized on the event to push for stricter measures. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank "exactly like in Gaza or Lebanon." National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. Israel is scheduled to hold general elections in four days.

Since the start of the year, the United Nations reports that at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank. Four Israelis, including security personnel and civilians, have been killed by Palestinians during the same period. Those figures do not include the two soldiers killed in the latest checkpoint attack.