Hebron: Demolition crews tear down homes after checkpoint shootout

Demolition crews began tearing down Palestinian buildings in Hebron on Thursday.

The Israeli military launched the operation after two soldiers were shot dead at a checkpoint outside the city. Three other soldiers were wounded in the incident, and officials confirmed both attackers were killed during the exchange.

Video footage captured the gunmen exiting a vehicle armed with a handgun and an assault rifle before opening fire on the checkpoint. Return fire followed immediately.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene and stated the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it." He referred to the neighborhood where the attackers originated. Netanyahu said Israel was prepared for "extensive action" in the West Bank, citing similar operations in refugee camps that displaced thousands.

The Prime Minister also noted he had reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the region in decades. He did not provide a timeline for the start of that operation. He confirmed that cordons were placed around Hebron, a city of approximately 200,000 residents, and the nearby town of Halhul.

The military announced it found a large quantity of ammunition inside the attackers' vehicle. Officials believe the gunmen intended to strike the nearby Route 35 but engaged the checkpoint instead. Demolishing homes of suspected attackers is a standard practice that Israeli rights groups have long described as collective punishment.

The attack intensified political tension ahead of the national vote scheduled for next week. Netanyahu's Likud party cancelled campaign events planned for Friday morning. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a West Bank campaign similar to operations 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 Netanyahu's pre-election warnings. He declared they would be "responsible" for any future attacks. Opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the soldiers' families. The UN reported that at least 96 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the year.

Four Israelis have also been killed in the territory during the same period. That count excludes the two soldiers who died in the checkpoint ambush.