West Bank city sealed as Israel orders evacuations after soldier killings

The Israeli government has sealed off Hebron and the neighbouring town of Halhul, as it announced a siege and mass demolitions of homes following an attack that killed two soldiers. The attack, which occurred near a checkpoint outside the city, was carried out by two men armed with an assault rifle and a handgun, who opened fire after soldiers stopped them. Both attackers were killed after a 20-minute gunfight.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said plans were drawn up for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, though no date has been set for the operation. He also promised to evacuate every clan neighbourhood in Hebron from which the terrorists emerged, and to force the displacement of residents. Defence Minister Israel Katz compared Hebron to the Jenin refugee camp, where nearly 20,000 people have been forced from their homes.

The first demolition started within hours of the attack, as ministers who had been campaigning ahead of Tuesday's elections rushed to the scene. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted a video of himself in front of a bulldozer as it tore down a Palestinian home near the site of the firefight. He said the demolition was meant to create deterrence and exact a price. However, Israel's high court issued a temporary order halting the demolitions shortly after the work began.

Human rights lawyer Mohammed Dahleh said the Israeli government's actions were an attempt to copy the illegal practices used in Gaza in the heart of the West Bank. Michael Sfard, a leading Israeli lawyer, described Smotrich's video as a direct admission that the demolitions amounted to collective punishment. He noted that deterrence has been used as a justification for such punishment since antiquity.

The attack has intensified violence in the occupied West Bank since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023, which have seen a surge in settlement expansion and violence against Palestinians, with more than 1,100 killed by Israeli forces or settlers.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also travelled to Hebron on Friday, demanding the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority and tighter limits on Palestinians' movement.

The episode came a week after settlers severely injured photographer Heidi Levine while she documented attacks on Palestinians harvesting olives.

The Foreign Press Association said it was deeply alarmed by the false claims and called them dangerous and defamatory.

Since the olive harvest began in late September, attacks have intensified in the occupied West Bank.

Polls suggest the governing far-right coalition, which backs settlers, may lose its majority on Tuesday.