Hebron Mayor Says Election Drives Mass Displacement as IDF Levels Districts

The Israeli military has launched a sweeping demolition campaign in Hebron, displacing hundreds of families in the occupied West Bank city. Local officials say the operation is displacing approximately 2,500 people from a specific urban district of about 0.35 square kilometers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the operation on Friday following a checkpoint attack in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded. Both Palestinian gunmen were killed in the incident. Netanyahu stated that buildings near the attack site and the neighborhoods associated with the gunmen would be destroyed.

The Israel Defense Forces reported that it is targeting dozens of locations across the West Bank, with operations expected to last several days. The army sealed off Hebron, limiting movement for its 200,000 residents. Footage from the scene shows bulldozers leveling entire streets, with buildings marked for demolition by spray paint.

Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari identified the Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa neighborhoods as the primary focus of the operation. He reported that dozens of families were forced to spend the night outdoors, some without their vehicles. The city’s governor and deputy mayor confirmed that at least 200 families have been displaced so far.

Netanyahu canceled his party’s campaign events for Friday morning and traveled to Hebron in protective armor. He described the mission as evacuating residents, removing weapons, and destroying terrorist infrastructure. The prime minister also said he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967, though he did not specify a timeline for that broader campaign.

The timing of the operation coincides with the Israeli general election, which is four days away. Al-Jaabari told journalists that the drive is motivated by the election, asserting that Netanyahu and his cabinet are seeking to secure votes from far-right supporters and settlers. Israeli rights groups have previously criticized the demolition of homes suspected in attacks as collective punishment.

Within the Israeli government, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a West Bank campaign similar to operations in Gaza and Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority requested urgent international action to prevent further forced displacement, while Netanyahu threatened a major surprise for the governing body in a Saturday interview.