Israel Launches Demolition Drive in Hebron After Fatal Checkpoint Shooting

Israeli forces began dismantling structures in the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday, responding to a violent incident that left two soldiers dead and three others injured. The military action targets the specific neighborhood where the attackers originated, following a gun battle at a checkpoint outside the city.

Video verified by the BBC captured the intensity of the exchange, showing two men exiting a vehicle armed with a handgun and an assault rifle. The gunmen opened fire on the soldiers before returning fire killed both of them. Israeli officials confirmed that a large quantity of ammunition was recovered from the vehicle, indicating the attackers may have intended to strike a larger target nearby.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the public from the scene, stating that the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it." He declared Israel ready for "extensive action" in the occupied territory, drawing a direct comparison to previous operations in refugee camps that displaced thousands. Netanyahu also noted that he had imposed security cordons around Hebron, a city of approximately 200,000 residents, and the nearby town of Halhul.

The prime minister said he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades, though he did not specify a timeline for its execution. The timing of the attack has immediately influenced the national election campaign, which is set to conclude in four days. The Likud party canceled events planned for Friday morning, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank modeled after operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

Political tensions sharpened earlier in the week when Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government. He stated that critics would be "responsible" for any future attacks. In response, opposition figures including Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offered condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and praised the troops who neutralized the gunmen.

The incident occurs amid heightened tensions in the territory, where settler violence has targeted Palestinians during the annual olive harvest. The United Nations reports that at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the year. Over the same period, four Israelis have been killed by Palestinians, a count that excludes the two soldiers lost in the latest checkpoint shooting.

Israeli rights groups have long criticized the practice of demolishing homes of suspected attackers as collective punishment. The military believes the gunmen intended to attack Route 35 but engaged at the checkpoint instead. The shooting marks a sharp escalation in a region where security measures are expanding ahead of the upcoming vote.