Israeli Military Operation in Hebron Displaces Thousands of Palestinians
Two days before Israeli elections, a military operation in Hebron has displaced thousands of Palestinians as the army demolishes buildings, with critics calling it collective punishment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "destroy" the shooters' neighborhood following an attack that killed two soldiers. The operation follows Friday's shooting incident in Hebron, and the city is now completely sealed off, severely restricting Palestinian movement. Israel also announced border crossings to the West Bank will be closed on election day. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported settlers established two new outposts near Hebron. Human rights group B'Tselem says the policy of dismantling Palestinian communities through "ethnic cleansing and territorial takeover" has escalated over three years. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich promised a "large-scale military operation, exactly like in Gaza and Lebanon," while protests in Israel demand accountability for the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.