Demolition crews enter Hebron after checkpoint shooting kills two troops

Israeli forces began razing Palestinian structures in Hebron today.

The operation followed a shooting at a checkpoint outside the city where two soldiers died and three others were wounded. Both gunmen were killed in the exchange of fire. Footage showed the men leaving a vehicle armed with a handgun and an assault rifle before opening fire.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the media from the scene. He stated that the military would demolish the specific neighborhood the attackers came from. He described the goal as transforming the area completely. Netanyahu said Israel was prepared for extensive action in the West Bank. He compared these plans to previous operations in refugee camps where residential buildings were destroyed and thousands were displaced.

The Prime Minister also revealed he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades. He did not provide a date for that operation. He confirmed that military cordons are now in place around Hebron and the nearby city of Halhul. Hebron has a population of approximately 200,000 people.

The military reported finding a large amount of ammunition in the attackers' car. Officials believe the gunmen intended to strike Route 35 but encountered the checkpoint instead. Demolishing homes of suspected attackers is a standard practice for the military. Local rights groups have long criticized this approach as collective punishment.

The shooting has altered the national election campaign scheduled for four days from now. The Likud party canceled events planned for Friday morning. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank similar to those in Gaza or Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government by criticizing earlier warnings about the attack.

At least 96 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the year, according to the United Nations. Four Israelis have also died in the territory during the same period. The deaths of the two soldiers in this attack are not included in those figures.