In brief
Israel’s army started demolishing Palestinian houses in Hebron after two soldiers were slain by gunmen at a checkpoint. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "destroy" the attackers’ neighbourhood and hinted at a larger West‑Bank operation. The violence comes on the eve of Israel’s general election, with far‑right ministers calling for hard‑line actions. Palestinian rights groups label the demolitions collective punishment, while the Israeli military says it was a targeted retaliation. The incident has already begun to shape campaign strategies as parties respond to the fresh security crisis.
Following a brutal attack that killed two Israeli soldiers at a Hebron checkpoint, Israeli troops are now demolishing houses in the neighbourhood where the gunmen allegedly came from.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the army would "destroy" the area and reaffirmed that Israel was prepared for "extensive action" in the occupied West Bank. He compared the planned operation to past demolitions in refugee camps, signalling a potentially wide‑scale military response.
Three Israeli soldiers were wounded and the two attackers were killed after a gun battle that was recorded on footage verified by the BBC. The Israeli military said it had found large quantities of ammunition in the gunmen’s vehicle, which they said were preparing for a wider assault on Route 35.
The incident comes while Israeli far‑right voices are calling for aggressive measures; Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged an operation “exactly like in Gaza or Lebanon,” and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.
Election officials have already cancelled campaign events and noted the violence could influence the outcome of the election set to take place in four days. In the broader context, UN figures show 96 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the start of 2026, while four Israelis have also been killed during the same period.
