Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered mass demolitions in Hebron and neighboring Halhul following the killing of two Israeli soldiers in an attack near a checkpoint. The move, which could be the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, aims to 'destroy' the neighborhood where the attackers are said to have come from.
Netanyahu announced a 'full lockdown' of the occupied West Bank, with plans for 'extensive action' and the forced displacement of residents. Far-right ministers, including Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, have called for a campaign in the West Bank 'exactly like in Gaza or Lebanon,' with Smotrich posting a video of himself in front of a bulldozer tearing down a Palestinian home.
The Israeli military has begun demolishing Palestinian buildings in Hebron after two soldiers were killed in an attack by two Palestinian gunmen. The operation, which includes the destruction of homes without permits, has drawn criticism from human rights lawyers who argue it violates international law on collective punishment. A temporary order was issued to stop the demolitions by the Israeli high court.
The incident has sparked political tensions, with Netanyahu's government facing criticism for its response to the attack. Opposition leaders have condemned the government's handling of the situation, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz drawing an explicit comparison with Gaza and the Jenin refugee camp, where nearly 20,000 people were displaced.