35 Hectares Destroyed in Hebron

Thirty-five hectares of land in the Ein Deir Baha district of Hebron were destroyed or marked for demolition, according to the city's municipal estimates. By Saturday afternoon, local authorities reported that approximately 1,500 residents had been forced from their homes. The city, which holds a population of 250,000, remained sealed off with checkpoints established at every point of entry.

The operation followed an attack on an Israeli military checkpoint outside the city on Friday. Two gunmen opened fire, resulting in a 20-minute engagement. Two Israeli soldiers died and three were wounded during the shootout, while both attackers were also killed. Local officials stated that the Ein Deir Baha district was the home area for the gunmen.

Residents documented the extent of the damage through video clips. One recording showed soldiers marking Palestinian homes with black crosses. Another captured a bulldozer demolishing a stone wall on a hillside. A third video displayed a large residential building draped in Israeli flags. Residents identified the structure as the home of a prominent Hebron family, which troops converted into a temporary military headquarters.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the checkpoint site and pledged a fierce response. Netanyahu stated that Israel would act to destroy the area. Smotrich, who is running in the upcoming elections with a smaller coalition party, was filmed in body armor during the demolition. He announced orders for the immediate razing of structures he labeled illegal and called for a comprehensive military campaign similar to operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

Issa Amro, a civil rights activist in Hebron, described the action as collective punishment. He noted that his sister's family was among those evicted. Amro stated that hundreds of displaced families had no connection to the Friday attack. He expressed uncertainty about whether the operation was primarily election propaganda or part of a long-term post-election strategy.

The municipality reported that roughly 300 families had been evicted. Some residents found shelter with 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 days. The Israeli army did not provide a statement in response to inquiries about the operation.