Israeli forces displaced around 1,200 Palestinians in Hebron as part of a military operation following a deadly attack on Israeli soldiers, with officials calling it collective punishment
and linking it to upcoming elections.
Israeli military operations in Hebron, the West Bank, forced approximately 1,200 Palestinians to flee their homes following a deadly attack that killed two Israeli soldiers. The operation, described by the Palestinian Authority as collective punishment,
was tied to Netanyahu’s right-wing government and the approaching parliamentary elections, according to multiple sources.
Military Operation Condemned as Disproportionate
The Israeli military launched the operation in the Al-Jaladah and Ein Deir Baha neighborhoods after two Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers at a checkpoint near Hebron. The military stated it aimed to locate and dismantle terrorist infrastructure
and demolish illegal structures
posing security threats. However, the Palestinian Authority and local leaders condemned the action as disproportionate and punitive.
Hebron’s mayor, reported that nearly 1,300 residents faced potential displacement, in addition to the 1,200 already affected. He accused Netanyahu’s government of exploiting the operation to secure votes from settlers ahead of the upcoming election, citing opinion polls showing his coalition at risk of losing its majority. Netanyahu and the radical ministers in his government are trying to win as many votes as possible from the settlers,
Al-Jabari said, per Straitstimes.
Netanyahu’s Rhetoric and Election Context
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the operation as a necessary response to terrorist infrastructure,
vowing to evacuate the residents, go house to house, remove the weapons we find there, and deal with and destroy all terrorist infrastructure.
His remarks, reported by the BBC, echoed comparisons to past military actions in Palestinian refugee camps, including a 2025 operation that displaced thousands. Netanyahu’s government has also faced criticism for expanding settlements in the West Bank, a move deemed illegal by the UN.
The operation coincided with Israel’s general election. Netanyahu’s campaign has centered on security, and he canceled events to visit Hebron, posting a video of himself in protective gear. Far-right ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, called for actions exactly like in Gaza or Lebanon,
while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir advocated dismantling the Palestinian Authority.
Human Impact and Unanswered Questions
Residents described chaotic evacuations, with Israeli forces marking homes with black Xs and using loudspeakers to announce displacements. Majdi Nasser, a displaced resident, called the operation “arbitrary,” stating, We are isolated; we don’t do anything.
The Israeli military also demolished shops, factories, and roads, according to Al-Jabari. Meanwhile, Yousef Mur, a Yatta resident, highlighted the humanitarian toll, saying closures prevented him from reaching Jerusalem for his daughter’s cancer treatment. They fired stun grenades towards people. The situation is very difficult,
he told Straitstimes.
Uncertainties persist, including the meaning of the X marks and whether the Hebron operation is part of a broader plan. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported 70 arrests in the days following the attack, though Israeli officials have not commented. The UN and rights groups have urged caution, with B’Tselem calling for international pressure to prevent plans for collective punishment.