Hebron Razed: 1,500 Displaced Before Israeli Election

Israeli forces have razed the Ein Deir Baha district of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, levelling or marking for destruction about 35 hectares and displacing roughly 1,500 Palestinians days before Israel's general election on Tuesday. The operation, described by local authorities as collective punishment, followed Friday's killing of two Israeli soldiers by two Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'destroy this place' in retaliation, while Hebron remains sealed by checkpoints.

What happened in Hebron?

The Hebron municipality said 35 hectares (86 acres) were destroyed or slated for demolition in the Ein Deir Baha district, with about 1,500 people evicted and roughly 300 families forced into community halls. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported plans to displace a further 2,500 people. Hebron Mayor Yousef Jaabari called the city 'a disaster zone' where 'no one can enter or leave,' according to Middle East Eye. Around 2,670 Palestinians were displaced from Deir Baha, al-Jalda and nearby neighbourhoods, an area of roughly 330 dunams and over 490 housing units. The Ibrahimi Mosque, a Unesco World Heritage site, was closed, its staff expelled and the call to prayer banned. Israeli forces also set up Hebron checkpoint restrictions across the city of 250,000.

Why did Israel launch the demolition?

The crackdown followed a Friday gunfight at an army checkpoint in which two Israeli soldiers and two gunmen were killed. The IDF said the area housed a clan linked to Hamas, the attackers' origin, and that civilians could evacuate through screening points. Israel launched an operation called 'Roar of Judah,' involving home raids, arrests, demolitions and forced displacement, according to Middle East Eye. Defence officials said displaced residents cannot return until Hamas infrastructure in Hebron is dismantled. Prime Minister Netanyahu told reporters, 'We will destroy this place,' while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, filmed in body armour at a demolition site, urged a campaign 'exactly like in Gaza and Lebanon.'

How does the operation affect Tuesday's election?

The demolitions come just four days before Israelis vote, linking security retaliation, Palestinian displacement and electoral politics. Hebron Mayor Jaabari accused Israel of collective punishment and of using Hebron for election publicity, telling Middle East Eye the city had been turned into a disaster zone for political gain. The escalation provides a security-focused narrative for Benjamin Netanyahu election campaign and his right-wing coalition partners, while drawing condemnation from Palestinian and international observers. The timing has intensified concerns that the operation is designed to mobilise voters rather than address genuine security threats.

Impact and international reaction

Residents said soldiers gave families five minutes to leave; at least 40 Palestinians were arrested and businesses and homes demolished. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club reported 47 arrests. Hebron's economy, the West Bank's most populous governorate, is suffering losses in the millions of shekels as factories close and goods movement is obstructed. The displacement has exacerbated the West Bank displacement crisis, with 177 families saying they have nowhere safe to stay. Rights groups have described the operation as collective punishment under international law, prohibited by the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Guardian reported that local authorities and activists called the demolition collective punishment, citing the scale of destruction.

FAQ

What is the Ein Deir Baha district of Hebron?

Ein Deir Baha is a Palestinian neighbourhood in western Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. It is part of an area Israeli forces targeted after a Friday checkpoint shooting, with about 35 hectares destroyed or slated for demolition.

How many Palestinians were displaced in Hebron?

Estimates range from 1,500 people according to the Hebron municipality to about 2,670 according to Middle East Eye, with roughly 300 to 488 families forced from their homes.

Why did Israel seal off Hebron?

Israel sealed Hebron with checkpoints after two Israeli soldiers were killed by two Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint on Friday. The IDF said the attackers came from a clan linked to Hamas in the area.

What did Netanyahu say about the Hebron operation?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'destroy this place' in retaliation, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a campaign 'exactly like in Gaza and Lebanon.'

Is the Hebron demolition linked to the Israeli election?

The operation comes days before Tuesday's Israeli general election, and Hebron's mayor accused Israel of using the city for election publicity, linking the demolition to electoral politics.