Israel demolishes homes of Hebron attackers, displaces over 3,000 Palestinians
On Friday Israeli forces razed the houses of the gunmen who killed two soldiers at a Hebron checkpoint on 23 Oct, prompting the forced displacement of more than 3,000 Palestinians in the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the large‑scale operation after the attack, and the Mount Hebron Regional Council announced the creation of eight new outposts in the Hebron Hills in response. The demolition follows the evacuation of residents from a Hebron neighbourhood to prepare for the razing, while UN human‑rights officials warn the displacement could amount to ethnic cleansing.
Key facts
- Two soldiers killed were Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem, 20.
- Roytman served as a squad commander in the Ari Battalion (775), Search and Rescue Brigade.
- The attackers originally planned to strike Route 35 but instead hit the checkpoint.
- Most entrances to Hebron are closed, restricting resident movement and medical access.
- IDF soldiers evacuated residents from a Hebron neighbourhood to prepare for the demolitions.
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Why it matters
The action escalates tensions ahead of Israel's upcoming election and raises humanitarian concerns.
What changed
First published from The Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera English, The Straits Times, Al-Monitor and Asharq Al-Awsat