In brief
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush near a Hebron checkpoint, prompting a swift military response. Israeli troops began demolishing Palestinian homes in the suspected attackers' neighbourhood, a move criticised as collective punishment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the possibility of a “large military operation” and announced cordons around Hebron and nearby towns. The incident has heightened tensions as Israel’s general election approaches, with far‑right leaders calling for harsher actions. Meanwhile, 96 Palestinians and four Israelis have already died this year in West Bank clashes, according to UN figures.
On Friday, two Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack by two Palestinian gunmen near a checkpoint outside Hebron. The gunmen were subsequently shot dead by Israeli forces.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Israeli army would “destroy” the neighbourhood from which the attackers came. He also mentioned the possibility of a large military operation and said that the army had imposed cordons around the city of Hebron and the nearby town of Halhul.
Israeli forces began demolishing Palestinian homes in the suspected attackers’ neighbourhood the next day. The demolition, a tactic used in other parts of the West Bank, has been criticised by Israeli rights groups as collective punishment.
The incident is unfolding against the backdrop of the country’s general election, scheduled for four days later. Far‑right leaders have called for harsher actions, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanding an “exactly like in Gaza or Lebanon” campaign and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir calling for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.
According to UN figures, 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the year, while four Israelis—both security forces and civilians—have been killed by Palestinians, not including the latest attack.
