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Israeli Forces Begin Demolishing Palestinian Buildings in Hebron After Soldiers Killed

Updated 2:19 PM ET · 1:38 PM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Israeli forces began demolishing Palestinian buildings in Hebron after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting attack by two Palestinian gunmen.

Israeli forces began demolishing Palestinian buildings in Hebron on Friday after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting attack by two Palestinian gunmen at a military checkpoint, according to the BBC (United Kingdom) and Saudi Gazette (Saudi Arabia).

The attack occurred at a checkpoint outside Hebron, resulting in the deaths of the two gunmen as well, as reported by France 24 (France) and NBC News. The Israeli military stated that the gunmen were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun, and that they had intended to carry out a larger attack on Route 35 but instead opened fire at the checkpoint.

According to the BBC (United Kingdom), Netanyahu likened his plans to previous operations in West Bank refugee camps where residential buildings were demolished and thousands were displaced. He also ordered a lockdown of Hebron and the entire West Bank, as reported by the Saudi Gazette (Saudi Arabia).

The Deccan Herald reported that Netanyahu vowed a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank, with demolitions beginning near the attack site. Residents claimed their homes had no links to the attackers.

France 24 (France) and the Los Angeles Times noted that violence has escalated in the West Bank, with at least 87 Palestinians killed in almost 1,500 attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers this year, according to Palestinian officials.

The Saudi Gazette (Saudi Arabia) and the BBC (United Kingdom) reported that it is common for Israeli forces to demolish the homes of Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis, a practice criticized by rights groups as 'collective punishment'.

The Israeli military said it had found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle and that they believed the gunmen had intended to carry out a much larger attack on the nearby Route 35, but ran into the checkpoint instead.

The IDF said it had arrested around 70 wanted Palestinians during operations in the West Bank over the past week, according to CBS News.

The Palestinian General Authority for Civil Affairs informed the Health Ministry that 58-year-old Fathi Khazem was fatally shot by Israeli forces early Friday in Jenin, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The attacks have included the killing and arrest of Palestinians, the demolition of homes and other structures, the burning of mosques and vehicles, the destruction of agricultural land, preventing farmers from accessing their fields, and the displacement of Palestinian communities, alongside illegal settlement expansion, according to TRT World.

The Israeli military said it had killed two attackers, and another three soldiers had been lightly wounded in the attack, as reported by France 24 (France) and NBC News.

The Israeli military stated that the gunmen were identified as Mohammad Jaaba and Firas Jaaba, 27-year-old Hebron residents, as reported by The Times of Israel (Israel).

Background

What's confirmed

• At least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the year, according to the UN.
• Speaking later from the scene, Netanyahu said that the military would "demolish this place and completely transform it," referring to the Hebron neighbourhood where the attackers are said to have come from.
• The two gunmen were also killed in the “terrorist attack”, the army said.
• Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority and for all Palestinians in the West Bank to be banned from travelling ‌by road.
• The Israeli military said it had killed two attackers, and another three ​soldiers had ‌been lightly wounded in the attack.
• “I instructed the Israeli army and security agencies to impose an immediate closure on Hebron and prepare for a comprehensive lockdown across Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), starting today (Friday)," he said in a statement.
• HEBRON — Israeli forces have begun demolishing Palestinian buildings in the city of Hebron after two Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack by two Palestinian gunmen.
• It is common for Israeli forces to demolish the homes of Palestinians who are suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis, a practice rights groups have criticized as "collective punishment".
• The Israeli military said it had found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle, and that they believe the gunmen had intended to carry out a much larger attack on the nearby Route 35, but ran into the checkpoint - so instead decided to open fire there.
• It comes at a time of high tensions, with extremist Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians during the annual olive harvest, and Israel's general election taking place in four days' time.
• Other footage shows two gunmen exit a car armed with what appears to be a handgun and an assault rifle and start firing on soldiers at the checkpoint, before coming under return fire.
• Three other soldiers were wounded in the attack at a checkpoint outside Hebron, before the gunmen were shot dead, officials say.

What's still developing

• He added that he had imposed cordons around the city of Hebron - which has around 200,000 residents - and the nearby city of Halhul.
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• In his speech following the attack, Netanyahu praised Israeli settlers in the West Bank, calling them “heroic” and saying they were “standing in the breach”.

Sources

• BBClink
• Deccan Heraldlink
• France 24link
• PBSlink
• Saudi Gazettelink
• TRT Worldlink
• The Times of Israellink
• Los Angeles Timeslink
• NBC Newslink
• CBS Newslink
• Dawnlink
• WarpBeat — background on Israeli Forces Begin Demolishing Palestinian Buildings in Hebron After Attack link
• WarpBeat — background on Hamas Releases Four Female Israeli Soldiers Under Cease-Fire link
• The Times — video link