Israel Begins Hebron Demolition

Two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting at a checkpoint outside Hebron, triggering an immediate military response in the West Bank city. The Israeli army began demolishing Palestinian buildings in the neighborhood where the attackers reportedly emerged. Three additional soldiers sustained injuries during the exchange of fire. Both gunmen were killed by returning fire.

Video footage shows the two men exiting a vehicle armed with a handgun and an assault rifle. They opened fire on the checkpoint guards before engaging in a sustained gun battle. The military stated it recovered a large quantity of ammunition from the attackers' car. Officials believe the gunmen originally targeted Route 35 but diverted their attack to the checkpoint upon encountering it.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the press from the scene of the incident. He declared that the military would demolish the specific area and completely transform it. Netanyahu stated Israel was prepared for extensive action in the occupied West Bank. He compared the current operations to earlier campaigns in refugee camps, which resulted in the displacement of thousands. He also revealed he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades, though he provided no timeline for its execution. He confirmed that cordons were imposed around Hebron, a city of approximately 200,000 residents, and the nearby town of Halhul.

The incident has intensified political dynamics ahead of the general election scheduled for four days. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank similar to those conducted in Gaza or Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government by criticizing Netanyahu's pre-vote warnings. Katz claimed they would be responsible for any future attack. Opposition leaders, including Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers. Likud party officials announced the cancellation of campaign events planned for Friday morning.

The attack occurred during a period of heightened tension in the West Bank. Extremist Jewish settlers have targeted Palestinians during the annual olive harvest season. The United Nations reported that at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the territory since the start of the year. Over the same period, four Israelis, including security personnel and civilians, were killed by Palestinians. This count excludes the two soldiers killed in the recent checkpoint shooting. Israeli rights groups have previously criticized the practice of demolishing homes of suspected attackers as a form of collective punishment.

The military continues its demolition work in the designated Hebron neighborhood. The cordons around Hebron and Halhul remain in effect. The next major political event is the national vote, which takes place in four days.