Israel Demolishes Hebron Homes After Checkpoint Shooting Kills Two Troops

Israeli military crews began tearing down Palestinian structures in Hebron on Thursday, days after two soldiers were shot and killed at a checkpoint outside the city. The assault marked a sharp escalation in the West Bank, with officials confirming that three other troops were wounded during the firefight. Both Palestinian gunmen were shot dead, and verified footage captured the intense exchange of fire before the attackers fled.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site and declared that the military would 'demolish this place and completely transform it.' He referred specifically to the neighborhood where the shooters are believed to have originated. Netanyahu stated that Israel was prepared for 'extensive action' in the occupied territory, drawing a parallel to previous operations in refugee camps where thousands of residents were displaced. He confirmed that cordons have been established around Hebron, a city with approximately 200,000 residents, and the nearby town of Halhul.

The military reported finding a large cache of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. Investigators believe the gunmen intended to strike the nearby Route 35 but engaged the checkpoint after encountering it. This incident occurs during a period of heightened tension, as extremist Jewish settlers have targeted Palestinians during the annual olive harvest. According to the United Nations, at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the year, a figure that does not include the two soldiers killed in the latest attack.

The shooting has intensified the political stakes ahead of the national election scheduled for four days from now. Netanyahu, whose campaign has centered on security, ordered his Likud party to cancel campaign events planned for Friday morning. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a military campaign in the West Bank that mirrors operations in Gaza and Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.

Tensions between government and opposition figures also rose on Thursday. Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government by criticizing Netanyahu's pre-election warnings of a potential attack. Katz stated that those leaders would be 'responsible' for any future incident. In response, opposition figures, including frontrunner Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and praised the troops who neutralized the attackers. Israeli rights groups have long criticized the demolition of homes linked to attacks as a form of collective punishment.