Hebron Demolitions: Israeli forces displace 200 families ahead of election

At least 200 families have been displaced in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron as Israeli forces demolish homes and businesses, local officials reported on Friday. Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari stated that the military intends to remove 2,500 people from approximately 0.35 square kilometers of urban land. The operation focuses on the Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa neighborhoods, targeting residences, industrial sites, and infrastructure.

Footage shared online shows Israeli bulldozers leveling entire streets. The army has sealed off the city, restricting movement for its 200,000 residents. Al-Jaabari said dozens of families were forced to sleep outdoors, with some instructed to leave without their vehicles. Houses are being marked for demolition with spray paint. The city’s governor and deputy mayor confirmed the displacement of at least 200 families.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the operation following the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint. Three other soldiers were wounded in the attack. Netanyahu stated that buildings near the attack site and the neighborhoods the gunmen came from would be destroyed. He visited Hebron on Friday wearing protective armor and posted a video from the scene.

Netanyahu said the military would evacuate residents, search houses for weapons, and destroy terrorist infrastructure. He also revealed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, though he did not specify when it would begin. It remains unclear if the current Hebron campaign is part of those broader plans. In an interview with i24 television channel released on Saturday, he threatened a very big surprise for the Palestinian Authority.

Demolishing homes of Palestinians suspected of attacks is a frequent practice in the West Bank. Israeli rights groups have described the tactic as collective punishment. Netanyahu compared the current operation to earlier campaigns in northern refugee camps in 2025, where hundreds of homes were destroyed and tens of thousands were displaced. The Israel Defense Forces said in a social media statement that it has dozens of targets across the West Bank and that operations will continue for several days.

The operation occurred four days before Israel's general election. Netanyahu, whose campaign emphasizes security, cancelled his party's Friday morning campaign events. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged for a West Bank campaign similar to those in Gaza or Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority requested urgent international action to prevent further forced displacement.

Al-Jaabari told journalists that the operation was driven by the elections. He said Netanyahu and his ministers were attempting to secure votes from the far right and settlers. The IDF did not immediately answer a request for comment regarding the specific details of the Hebron demolitions.