Hebron: Demolition crews enter neighborhood after checkpoint ambush

Demolition crews entered a residential neighborhood in Hebron on Thursday to begin tearing down Palestinian structures. The military action follows a shooting at a checkpoint outside the city where two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded by two Palestinian gunmen. Both attackers were killed in the exchange of fire.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene and declared that the military would dismantle the specific area where the gunmen originated. He stated the goal was to transform the neighborhood and described Israel as prepared for extensive operations in the West Bank. Netanyahu compared these plans to previous actions in refugee camps that displaced thousands of residents. He also revealed that he had ordered cordons around Hebron, a city of roughly 200,000 people, and the nearby town of Halhul.

The timing of the assault complicates the current election campaign. Israel holds its general election in four days. Netanyahu, who has campaigned on a platform of security, ordered his Likud party to cancel events scheduled for Friday morning. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a West Bank campaign similar to those in Gaza and Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.

Political tensions rose earlier in the week. Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government by criticizing Netanyahu's pre-election warnings. He claimed they would be responsible for any future attacks. Opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, sent condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and praised the troops who killed the gunmen.

The Israeli military reported finding a large amount of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. Officials believe the gunmen intended to strike Route 35 but opened fire at the checkpoint after encountering soldiers. Footage from the scene shows the attackers leaving a car armed with a handgun and an assault rifle before coming under return fire.

Rights groups have long criticized the practice of demolishing the homes of suspects, labeling it collective punishment. The attack occurred during the annual olive harvest, a period marked by frequent clashes between Palestinian farmers and extremist Jewish settlers. The UN reports at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the year. Four Israelis have also died in the territory over the same period, a count that excludes the two soldiers killed on Wednesday.