Netanyahu dons protective armor and travels to demolished street in Hebron. Then he issues a warning about his next move: ‘A very big surprise’
‘Collective punishment.’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently visited a demolished street in Hebron while wearing protective armor, signaling a major shift in military operations. According to the BBC, he issued a warning about his next move, describing it as ‘a very big surprise’. This development follows a deadly shooting attack that killed two Israeli soldiers. Two Palestinian gunmen also died during that incident, which left three other soldiers injured.
The Israeli military responded by launching a massive operation in the occupied West Bank. This effort includes the demolition of homes and businesses in Hebron. Local officials report that hundreds of families are now displaced. Footage shared online shows bulldozers flattening at least one entire street. The military has cordoned off the city, heavily restricting the movement of its 200,000 residents.
Netanyahu announced on Friday, October 23, 2026, that buildings near the attack site and the neighborhoods where the gunmen lived would be destroyed. Hebron Mayor Youssef al-Jaabari stated that more than 1,000 people have been displaced by the operation. The focus remains on the Ein Deir Baha and Farsh al-Hawa neighborhoods. These areas contain homes, businesses, industrial sites, and critical infrastructure.
Dozens of families spent the night outside after being forced to leave their homes
Some residents were told to leave without their vehicles. Military personnel marked homes for demolition with spray paint. The mayor believes the military intends to displace a total of 2,500 people from about 0.35 sq km of urban land. The city governor and deputy mayor confirm that at least 200 families are displaced.
The Israel Defense Forces did not respond to requests for comment regarding these specific actions. They stated on social media that they have dozens of targets across the West Bank and noted that these operations will continue for several days. It is common practice for Israeli forces to destroy the homes of Palestinians suspected of attacks. Israeli rights groups often criticize this as collective punishment.
Netanyahu compared this operation to previous actions in Palestinian refugee camps from 2025. He canceled his party campaign events on Friday morning to visit Hebron. He posted a video from the scene while wearing protective gear.
“We will evacuate the residents, go house to house, remove the weapons we find there, and deal with and destroy all terrorist infrastructure,” he said. He also noted that he reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank since 1967.
Palestinian Authority has called for urgent international action
In a Saturday interview with Israel’s i24 television channel, he threatened a very big surprise for the Palestinian Authority. This governing body oversees parts of the territory. The Palestinian Authority responded by calling for urgent international action to prevent further forced displacement. They stated that this action must go beyond simple condemnation.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggested that Israel should launch a campaign in the West Bank exactly like in Gaza or Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for Israel to dismantle the Palestinian Authority entirely. Mayor al-Jaabari suggested that the operation is driven by the upcoming elections. He believes Netanyahu and his ministers are trying to secure votes from the far-right and settlers.
Riyad Mureish, a Palestinian businessman, saw his home destroyed on Friday. He told NBC News that soldiers gave his family only minutes to collect valuables and identity documents. He mentioned a long-running dispute with authorities over construction permits.
A court decree should have prevented the demolition, but the soldiers proceeded anyway. “They demolished and took me out by force,” he said. Mureish is now sheltering in a small room at a neighbor’s house. He expressed his frustration by saying, “No house, no land, no money, what can I do?”
Soldiers raised Israeli flags over several buildings
Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem reported that approximately 240 Palestinian families were forced from their homes in the Jildah and Ein Deir Bahah neighborhoods. The group stated that soldiers took over numerous homes and remained inside them. They also noted that soldiers raised Israeli flags over several buildings. Arrests and interrogations continue as the city remains sealed.
United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that closures restrict freedom of movement and access to basic services. Mayy El Sheikh, representing the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, labeled the situation as another episode of measures making life unbearable. She noted that it follows a pattern of collective punishment.
Netanyahu faces a tough re-election battle on Tuesday. He has built his campaign on the promise of security, praising settlers as heroic, calling them an example to the people of Israel. He previously warned of attempts to harm civilians and soldiers ahead of the elections. While some analysts believe the actions are meant to show a strong arm, others remain uncertain about the long-term impact on the region.
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