Hebron demolition begins after checkpoint ambush

Demolition crews began destroying Palestinian buildings in Hebron on Thursday morning. This action follows a shootout at a checkpoint outside the city where two Israeli soldiers were killed.

The attack occurred earlier on Thursday. Two Palestinian gunmen emerged from a vehicle armed with a handgun and an assault rifle. They opened fire on soldiers at the checkpoint. Three other soldiers sustained injuries during the exchange. Both attackers were shot dead. Verified footage shows the intense gun battle between the forces.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site. He stated that the military would demolish the area and completely transform it. He referred to the specific neighborhood where the attackers originated. Netanyahu declared Israel ready for extensive action in the West Bank. He compared the current plans to previous operations in refugee camps that displaced thousands of residents.

The Prime Minister said he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades. He did not specify a start date for that operation. He also announced cordons around Hebron and the nearby city of Halhul. Hebron is home to approximately 200,000 residents.

The Israeli military reported finding a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. Officials believe the gunmen intended to target the nearby Route 35. They changed their plan after encountering the checkpoint. Demolishing homes of suspected attackers is a standard practice for Israeli forces. Local rights groups have criticized this measure as collective punishment.

The incident is affecting the national election campaign scheduled for four days from now. Netanyahu’s Likud party canceled campaign events planned for Friday morning. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a West Bank campaign similar to those in Gaza or 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-vote warnings. He claimed they would be responsible for any future attack. Opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the families of the dead soldiers. The United Nations reports that at least 96 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since the start of the year. Four Israelis have also died in the region over the same period, excluding the two soldiers from this week's attack.