Israeli forces evacuate Hebron families after checkpoint attack kills two soldiers

Israeli forces moved into parts of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, evacuating residents and demolishing buildings after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a checkpoint attack a day earlier.

The Israeli military said two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the checkpoint near Hebron, killing two soldiers and wounding three other Israelis before troops shot the attackers dead. It said ammunition found in their vehicle indicated they may have intended a larger attack. Hamas did not claim responsibility but praised the shooting and called for more attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank and said Israel was considering an operation there on a scale not undertaken since 1967. He said an initial phase would include evacuating residents, searching homes and destroying what he called “terrorist infrastructure.” The military said it had begun raids in the Hebron area.

AFP reported that about 250 families were displaced from one Hebron neighborhood, some after soldiers issued evacuation orders overnight. France 24 cited a Palestinian official who said around 1,200 people had been forced from their homes and another 1,300 could face evacuation. The Palestinian Authority called for urgent international pressure to prevent forced displacement.

The army also announced restrictions on Palestinian workers and crossings during Israel’s election period, including a broader closure on election day, Tuesday. The measures come as Netanyahu campaigns for another term in a closely contested vote.