Israeli soldiers have demolished homes, shops, and roads in Hebron city in the West Bank, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian households becoming homeless just before Israel's general election next week.
On Saturday, 24 Oct 2026 GMT+7, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an operation in Hebron city, West Bank, using bulldozers to tear down homes, shops, and infrastructure, destroying at least one road completely. They also imposed a lockdown on the city and restricted movement for over 200,000 residents.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the operation after two Palestinian assailants shot and killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others at a checkpoint; the attackers were killed on the spot by security forces.
Netanyahu ordered the demolition of buildings around the attack site and in the neighborhoods where the assailants lived, despite ongoing criticism from Israeli human rights groups that this constitutes collective punishment.
According to Youssef Al-Jabari, the mayor of Hebron, the operation focused on the Ain Deir Bahha and Farsh Al-Hawa neighborhoods, forcing dozens of families to sleep outdoors, with an estimated 2,500 people displaced.
Officials also reported that at least 200 Palestinian families have been rendered homeless due to this operation.
This incident occurred just four days before Israel's general election. Netanyahu, campaigning on a security platform, canceled other campaign events and visited Hebron wearing body armor.
Netanyahu stated he is reviewing the largest military operation plan in the West Bank since 1967 and warned of a "big surprise" for the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Hebron's mayor said the operation "was carried out for political and electoral gain," aiming to attract votes from right-wing and settler groups. Meanwhile, the PA has called on the international community to intervene urgently.
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Source:bbc