Israel demolishes homes of gunmen in West Bank operation displacing thousands
After soldiers killed in Hebron attack, Netanyahu-ordered operation displaces 3,000+ Palestinians amid accusations of election-timed crackdown.
What to know
- Israel demolished homes of two Palestinians who killed soldiers in a Hebron attack on October 23, displacing 3,000+ residents in a broader military operation ordered by PM Netanyahu.
- Palestinian officials and UN human rights chief accuse Israel of timing the crackdown to boost Netanyahu ahead of Tuesday's elections and warn the displacement constitutes potential ethnic cleansing.
- The operation includes border closures severely limiting Palestinian freedom of movement, including access to medical care, and broader demolitions of homes, shops, roads, and factories beyond the gunmen's residences.
- Reuters documented Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian olive farmers during harvest season with military present, part of a documented pattern of 135+ settler attacks through late October.
The dispute Whether the demolition and displacement constitute a justified security response to the soldier deaths or illegal collective punishment and ethnic cleansing timed to influence elections. · positions read across 1 posts and comments
Israel's operation is collective punishment and an election-timed crackdown that violates international law and constitutes ethnic cleansing.
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“Collective punishment is a grave violation of international law. Threats to empty and erase entire neighbourhoods also raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing.”
Volker Türk · Channel News Asia ↗
The operation is a legitimate security response to the killing of Israeli soldiers.
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“continue to operate proactively and offensively to thwart attacks in the West Bank and protect residents in the area”
Israeli military · Straits Times ↗
“Among themselves they will elect who is the oppressor and who will destroy the Palestinian people. That is their election.”
Sana' Salman Abu Sneineh, Displaced Palestinian resident · Channel News Asia ↗
Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister
Volker Türk UN human rights chiefNoura Nassar Displaced Palestinian resident
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Israel demolishes homes of the gunmen who killed soldiers
Israeli forces demolished the homes of the two Palestinians accused of killing the Israeli soldiers. The homes had been occupied by the wives and children of the gunmen before the military forced Palestinians to evacuate the area. The military said it would continue operating proactively to thwart attacks.
“continue to operate proactively and offensively to thwart attacks in the West Bank and protect residents in the area…”
— Israeli military -
4 outlets first by Japan Today, 8d ago · also Al-Monitor, Arab News, Straits Times · read ↗
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first by Mastodon, 8d ago · also Al Jazeera
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Arab News | Israel demolishes gunmen’s homes in West Bank operation that has displaced thousands JERUSALEM: Israel demolished on Friday the homes of the assailants who killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint… # EuropeSays # Headlines # News # Europe # Europa # EU # Israel # Hebron # Israelimilitary # OccupiedWestBank # palestinians
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Israeli settlers attack Palestinian olive farmers as military standby — In Kafr Malik near Ramallah, Reuters witnesses documented Israeli settlers shoving Palestinians and preventing farmers from harvesting olives while the Israeli military was present. The military claimed it responded to reports of stone-throwing by Palestinians, but a Reuters witness present did not observe stones being thrown. This reflects a broader surge in settler violence during olive harvest season, with at least 135 physical attacks documented as of October 23.
- 2 days quiet
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Palestinians protest military demolitions; Israeli troops fire stun grenade
Over 3,000 Palestinians gathered to protest the displacement in Hebron on the same day Israelis were voting in elections. Israeli troops fired a stun grenade to disperse the protesters. Displaced residents and Palestinian officials accused Netanyahu of timing the operation to energize right-wing supporters.
“Where is the democracy in all of this? Their elections are today, sure, but what about us? Aren't we human beings?”
— Noura Nassar -
first by Channel News Asia, 12d ago
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UN human rights chief warns of collective punishment and ethnic cleansing — UN human rights chief Volker Türk issued a statement calling the displacement a grave violation of international law, saying collective punishment breaches international law and that threats to empty entire neighborhoods raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing.
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Israeli military demolitions begin; over 3,000 Palestinians displaced — The Israeli military began demolishing homes in Hebron and closed most entrances to the city, severely curtailing Palestinian freedom of movement. By this point, over 3,000 Palestinians had been forcibly displaced from their homes.
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Netanyahu orders large-scale military operation in West Bank — In response to the checkpoint attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to launch a large-scale operation in areas near the checkpoint, targeting neighborhoods in Hebron.
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Palestinian gunmen kill two Israeli soldiers at Hebron checkpoint — Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint in Hebron, killing two Israeli soldiers. Both gunmen were killed in the incident.