Israel demolishes homes of Palestinians blamed for attack on soldiers

What the report says

Israeli forces demolished the homes of two Palestinian brothers in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, after the pair were accused of carrying out an October 23 attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others. According to Al Jazeera’s report, the demolition took place on Friday during the eighth day of a broader military offensive and siege on the southern city. Troops had surrounded the buildings beforehand, and army engineers reportedly spent hours preparing the structures before they were blown up.

The report says the area was heavily sealed off, and when residents later tried to approach, soldiers backed by drones detained at least 12 Palestinians. Al Jazeera also reported that parts of the nearby Ein Deir Bahha neighbourhood have been emptied, with some buildings repurposed for military use, while other residents in adjacent areas remained trapped in their homes.

Hebron municipality figures cited in the article said nearly 4,969 Palestinians from 780 families had been displaced by the offensive. The report also said at least 120 Palestinians had been arrested since the operation began, along with the demolition of several businesses near the checkpoint where the attack occurred. Israeli officials have indicated that further demolitions in Area C may follow, while Palestinian figures and Hamas described the actions as collective punishment and part of a wider campaign against the Palestinian presence.

The events in Hebron fit into a broader pattern of intensified Israeli military and settler activity across the West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023, according to the article.