Hebron Cleanup: Two Soldiers Killed in Checkpoint Ambush
Israel begins demolishing buildings in Hebron and imposes cordons after two gunmen were shot dead at a checkpoint.
By Harper Foster ·
Residents of Hebron and the nearby town of Halhul faced new restrictions as Israeli forces began tearing down Palestinian buildings on Friday. The action follows a shootout at a checkpoint outside Hebron where two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others were wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the changes from the scene, stating the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it." He referred to the specific neighborhood where the attackers reportedly emerged.
Footage from the incident shows two armed men exiting a vehicle and opening fire on the checkpoint. They carried a handgun and an assault rifle. Return fire from soldiers killed both gunmen. The military later reported finding a large amount of ammunition in the car. Officials believe the attackers intended to strike Route 35 but encountered the checkpoint first.
Netanyahu announced that he had imposed cordons around Hebron, a city of approximately 200,000 people, and Halhul. He also said he reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades, though he did not provide a timeline. He compared the planned actions to previous operations in West Bank refugee camps, where thousands of residents were displaced.
The incident has entered the national election campaign, with Israeli voters heading to the polls in four days. The Likud party cancelled its Friday morning campaign events. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank similar to those in Gaza or Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.
Political tensions rose on Thursday when Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government. He claimed they would be "responsible" for future attacks if they continued criticizing Netanyahu's warnings. Opposition leaders, including Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers. They also praised the soldiers who neutralized the attackers.
Rights groups have long criticized the demolition of homes belonging to suspected attackers, labeling it collective punishment. The violence occurs during the annual olive harvest, a period of high tension where extremist settlers have targeted Palestinians. 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. Four Israelis have been killed in the territory over the same period, excluding the two soldiers from this week's attack.
