Netanyahu Threatens to ‘Destroy’ Hebron Neighbourhood

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to “destroy” a neighbourhood in Hebron in the occupied West Bank following a shooting at a military checkpoint. During a visit to Hebron with Defence Minister Israel Katz, Netanyahu said the area from which the gunmen came would be completely transformed.

In a video released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu said, “First, we will take steps to destroy this place and completely transform it.”

He added, “We are going to do something that has not been done before. We will apply here the same successful and aggressive model used to eliminate terrorist strongholds in refugee camps.”

Netanyahu said Israeli forces would conduct house-to-house operations in the neighbourhood, evacuate residents and dismantle what he described as “terrorist infrastructure”, including by seizing weapons. He also announced plans to demolish houses built without permits along roads in the occupied West Bank, describing them as a “threat” to Israeli forces.

Netanyahu has also threatened an unprecedented military operation in the occupied West Bank, saying it would be the largest of its kind since 1967. In a statement, he said he had reviewed plans for an extensive operation and that it would be carried out when the time was right.

During the June 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, as well as the Golan Heights from Syria and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt. Netanyahu’s latest threats have fuelled fear and concern across the occupied West Bank.

Earlier, two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded in a shooting by Palestinian gunmen at a military checkpoint near Hebron on Friday morning, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The military identified the dead as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roitman, 23, from Ashkelon, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilim, 20, from Hod Hasharon. Both served in the Home Front Command’s Search and Rescue Brigade, in the 775th Ori Battalion. Roitman was a squad commander.

According to military sources, two Palestinian gunmen approached a military position in the morning, triggering an intense exchange of fire that lasted about 20 minutes. Both attackers were killed by Israeli troops. The three wounded soldiers were taken to hospital, with their injuries described as light to moderate. Security was tightened across the area following the incident.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have begun demolishing buildings and infrastructure in the area after ordering Palestinian residents to leave their homes with just five minutes’ notice. Local sources said the demolitions were carried out rapidly, without giving residents a meaningful opportunity to challenge the decisions or appeal.

Previously, Israeli authorities generally gave families notice and an opportunity to appeal before demolishing the homes of people accused of carrying out attacks, although such appeals were rarely successful. Local sources said even this limited process had not been followed in the latest demolitions.

Political analysts say right-wing and far-right politicians are using the incident as a campaign issue ahead of the upcoming election. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the complete dismantling of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, meanwhile, has claimed that the demolitions target illegal structures built without permits. However, Palestinians face severe restrictions in obtaining building permits for the natural growth of their communities, the report said.

The use of force against Palestinians is seen by critics as an attempt to attract voters and demonstrate a hardline stance ahead of the election.

Sources: Al Jazeera, The Times of Israel