Palestinian families displaced as Israeli forces demolish Hebron homes

Israeli forces demolished homes and businesses and displaced hundreds of Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, according to local officials. The operation followed the killing of two Israeli soldiers by Palestinian gunmen on Friday and unfolded days before Israel’s election.

The two gunmen attacked a military checkpoint near the city, killing the soldiers and wounding three others before being killed themselves. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently announced an operation targeting the area around the attack and the neighbourhoods from which the attackers came, according to the BBC report supplied for this article.

Palestinian officials gave differing estimates of the displacement as the operation continued. Hebron’s governor and deputy mayor reported at least 200 families had been displaced, while Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari said more than 1,000 people had been forced from their homes. Those figures were not presented as a final tally.

The mayor said the operation affected homes, businesses, industrial sites and infrastructure. Some families were told to leave without their vehicles, and dozens spent the night outdoors, according to his account. Buildings were marked with spray paint ahead of demolition, he said.

Movement restrictions compounded the disruption beyond the neighbourhoods directly targeted. Associated Press reporting described Israeli troops closing gates and checkpoints to Palestinian drivers, while families and workers crossed on foot. At the city’s outskirts, people passed essential supplies through military gates and sought onward transport on the other side.

Israeli authorities described the operation as a security response to the checkpoint attack. The military said its searches were focused on the area associated with the gunmen and would continue for several days, according to Euronews. That account stood alongside Palestinian officials’ warnings about the wider impact on civilian residents.

Hebron Governor Khaled Dudin accused Israel of imposing collective punishment on people unconnected to the shooting, AFP reported. He warned that an operation beginning in the attackers’ neighbourhood could spread further. The mayor said local authorities would seek shelter and assistance for displaced residents.

The timing has added a political dimension to the military response. Netanyahu and other members of his government promised forceful action ahead of the election, while Palestinian residents interviewed by AFP accused Israeli leaders of exploiting their displacement for electoral gain. Those accusations reflect residents’ assessments, rather than an independently established motive for the operation.

For families who left, the immediate uncertainty concerns both accommodation and whether their homes will remain standing. Accounts gathered by news agencies described residents taking clothes and identity documents and looking for relatives who could house them. The combination of evacuation orders, demolitions and road closures has complicated their ability to plan a return.

The military’s stated expectation of a several-day operation leaves the duration of the disruption unresolved. Palestinian officials have warned that more residents could be displaced, while Israeli leaders have indicated that further action remains under consideration. The next phase will determine whether the operation stays within its announced focus or extends to additional areas.