Netanyahu orders Hebron neighborhood dismantled after checkpoint ambush

Two Israeli soldiers were shot dead at a checkpoint outside Hebron, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order the demolition of the nearby Palestinian neighborhood. The attack left three additional soldiers wounded, while both gunmen were killed in the ensuing firefight. Footage verified by the BBC captures the intense exchange of fire between the troops and the attackers, who emerged from a vehicle armed with a handgun and an assault rifle.

Standing at the scene, Netanyahu declared that the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it." He stated that Israel is prepared for "extensive action" in the occupied West Bank. The Prime Minister compared this planned operation to previous actions in West Bank refugee camps, where residential structures were destroyed and thousands of residents were displaced.

The military has imposed cordons around Hebron, a city with approximately 200,000 residents, and the nearby town of Halhul. Netanyahu indicated he had reviewed plans for what he described as the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades, although he did not specify a timeline for its execution. The government views the removal of homes from suspected attackers as a standard security measure, a practice that Israeli rights groups have criticized as collective punishment.

The incident has intensified the national election campaign, which is scheduled for four days from now. Netanyahu’s Likud party cancelled campaign events planned for Friday morning in response to the violence. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank that would mirror operations in Gaza or Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority following the checkpoint shooting.

Political tensions rose further on Thursday when Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government. He claimed they would be "responsible" for any future attacks after criticizing Netanyahu’s pre-election warnings. Opposition figures, including leading candidate Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the victims' families and praised the soldiers who neutralized the gunmen.

Military officials stated they discovered a large quantity of ammunition inside the attackers' vehicle. The army believes the gunmen intended to strike the nearby Route 35 but opted to engage the checkpoint instead. The assault occurs during a period of high tension in the West Bank, where extremist Jewish settlers have targeted Palestinians during the annual olive harvest.

According to the United Nations, at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the territory since the beginning of the year. Over that same period, four Israelis, including security personnel and civilians, were killed by Palestinians. Those figures do not include the two soldiers killed in the latest checkpoint attack.