Israeli forces demolish homes in Hebron following checkpoint attack

Israeli soldiers demolished a residential area in the Ein Deir Baha district of Hebron on Saturday, forcing an estimated 1,500 residents to leave their homes, local authorities said. The Hebron municipality reported that about 35 hectares (86 acres) of structures were destroyed or slated for demolition, affecting roughly 300 families.

The demolition followed a Friday attack on an Israeli military checkpoint outside the city, in which two gunmen killed two soldiers and were themselves killed after a 20-minute gunfight. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich visited the site and pledged a swift response.

"Israel will act to destroy this place," Netanyahu said.

Smotrich said he had ordered "the immediate demolition of a wide row of illegal Arab structures adjacent to the attack site."

Municipal officials said some displaced residents were staying with relatives, while community halls and children’s play areas were opened as temporary shelters. A Palestinian news agency reported that Israeli authorities may plan to displace an additional 2,500 people.

Civil-rights activist Issa Amro, whose sister’s family was among those evicted, told reporters that the families were being punished for an incident they did not commit and expressed concern that the actions were being used for political purposes ahead of upcoming elections.

The Israeli army was contacted for comment on the demolition operations and the accompanying video footage, but no response was provided.