Israeli forces on Friday blew up the homes in Hebron of two Palestinians they blame for killing two Israeli soldiers on 23 October near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint, Al Jazeera reports. The demolitions came on the eighth day of a military offensive and siege on the occupied West Bank city.

The homes of brothers Ahmad and Hammouda al-Jaabeh — killed after the attack that also wounded three soldiers — were surrounded from the morning and the area sealed. Al Jazeera’s Mohammed al-Atrash said army engineers spent at least nine hours rigging explosives before detonating them. When residents tried to approach, troops and drones detained at least 12 Palestinians; some were still held during the live report, he said.

According to al-Atrash, Ein Deir Bahha neighbourhood was emptied; some homes were turned into barracks. Hebron municipality said Tuesday that 4,969 Palestinians from 780 families had been displaced. He also cited at least 120 arrests since the operation began and demolition of at least 13 businesses near the checkpoint. Israeli officials had threatened to speed demolitions in Area C, in line with measures approved by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich after the attack.

On Friday, dozens of displaced people protested near the closed al-Jalda roundabout, demanding an end to the siege and the right to return. Academic Raed Nairat called the operation “collective punishment” with political aims. Hamas described the displacement and demolitions as a systematic campaign and urged urgent international action. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces detained four people south of Tulkarem; olive harvesters near Bethlehem and Nablus were also reported attacked or driven off.

Image: Hebron old city (Wikimedia Commons).

Sources consulted: Israel demolishes homes of Palestinians blamed for attack on soldiers - Al Jazeera.