Israel Demolishes Hebron Neighborhood, Displacing Hundreds Ahead of Election

Israeli forces have razed a neighborhood in Hebron, driving hundreds of Palestinian families from their homes in what local authorities are calling collective punishment. The operation, which involved the demolition of buildings and the eviction of approximately 1,500 people from the Ein Deir Baha district, followed a militant attack that killed two Israeli soldiers. The entire city of Hebron has been sealed off with checkpoints, severely restricting movement.

This crackdown occurs just days before Israel's general election, with the ongoing conflict and the fate of Palestinians in Gaza largely absent from the campaign discourse. Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire, with widespread displacement and shortages of essential resources, yet the election focuses primarily on security and ending Hamas rule. The restrictions also extend to West Bank crossings, with the Israeli Defense Forces announcing limitations on Palestinian worker movement in the lead-up to the vote.