WEST BANK, Palestine (Web Desk) - Israel began demolishing buildings and ordering residents to evacuate a neighborhood in the occupied West Bank on Friday, hours after two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers in a shooting attack at a military checkpoint.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said three other soldiers were lightly wounded in the attack in the city of Hebron.
The incident occurred just four days before Israel’s elections, the first since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack, placing security issues at the forefront of a crucial political test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has sought to project a tough stance on security.
Following the shooting, the IDF announced a “full siege” on Hebron, while Netanyahu said he had ordered a complete closure of the occupied West Bank starting Friday.
Hours later, however, Netanyahu appeared to soften the plan, saying he would consider imposing a cordon around Hebron and Halhul, potentially extending the restrictions to other areas.
Netanyahu also said the military would forcibly evacuate the neighborhood where the attack took place and “transform it completely.” He pointed to a similar approach used in the Jenin, Tulkarm, Nur Shams and Al-Far’a refugee camps in early 2025, when thousands of Palestinians were displaced and entire neighborhoods were evacuated.
Israeli Forces Launch Multi-Day Operation
The IDF and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) announced a counterterrorism operation lasting several days in the Hebron area.
“Forces have begun conducting precise, targeted and thorough searches throughout the area to locate and dismantle terrorist infrastructure and weapons, while questioning suspects,” the joint statement said.
The authorities said the operation would remain confined to the area from which the gunmen allegedly carried out the attack.
According to the statement, residents will be permitted to leave through three designated exit points but will undergo questioning and security screening. Individuals deemed suspicious will be referred to security forces for further interrogation.
The IDF and ISA said the operation builds on security measures introduced earlier in the day, including mapping the attackers’ residences, imposing a cordon around Hebron and Halhul, establishing roadblocks and conducting counterterrorism activities across the surrounding area.
Demolitions and Evacuations Raise Concerns
Israeli forces have also begun demolishing what they described as “illegal structures that could pose a security threat” in the targeted neighborhood.
The measures, including forced evacuations, movement restrictions and building demolitions, mark a further escalation of Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank following the deadly shooting.
The operation comes amid heightened security tensions ahead of Israel’s elections, with Netanyahu’s government facing renewed scrutiny over its handling of security threats and the broader conflict with the Palestinians.