Israeli forces displace hundreds of Palestinians in Hebron after shooting attack

Israeli military forces have displaced hundreds of Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank city of Hebron, France 24 and the Guardian reported on Saturday. The action followed a Friday morning attack near a military checkpoint outside the city, where two Palestinian gunmen shot and killed two Israeli soldiers, according to France 24 and BBC News. [1][2][4]

Differing figures were given regarding the extent of the displacement. France 24 cited a Palestinian official who stated that around 1,200 Palestinians were forced to leave their homes. The Guardian reported an estimate from local Palestinian authorities that about 1,500 people had been evicted, with the Hebron municipality estimating that 35 hectares had been destroyed or marked for destruction. [1][2]

Speaking from the scene of the shooting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a large-scale offensive and said the military would demolish and completely transform the neighbourhood where the attackers were said to have come from, according to France 24 and BBC News. BBC News noted that the incident prompted Netanyahu to cancel planned election campaign events for his Likud party. [1][4]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Israeli forces previously demolished buildings in Hebron and Turkish state agency Anadolu Ajansi reported that 19 Palestinians were arrested during the initial operations. [13]

The Palestinian Authority has called for international pressure on Israel in response to the forced displacements, France 24 reported. [1]