Israeli troops fired a stun grenade on Tuesday to disperse Palestinians protesting the demolition of homes in Hebron, a military operation that has displaced thousands in the occupied West Bank. The unrest coincided with Israel's general election, where the country's approach to the West Bank was a significant campaign issue.
The protests followed the deaths of two Israeli soldiers, who were shot by Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint the previous week. Some Palestinian officials have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of intensifying actions in the West Bank to coincide with the vote, aiming to galvanize his right-wing base. The Israeli government maintains that the operation is a direct response to the attack on its soldiers.
Protesters, including men, women, and children, gathered with one elderly demonstrator holding a placard stating: "No to collective punishment, no to closures, and no to displacement." The military confirmed the use of a stun grenade to ensure the continuation of its operation.
According to a statement from the United Nations on Monday, the Israeli military operation, targeting neighborhoods near the checkpoint where the soldiers were killed, has forced over 3,000 Palestinians from their homes. UN human rights chief Volker Türk described collective punishment as a grave violation of international law and expressed serious concerns that threats to eliminate entire neighborhoods could amount to ethnic cleansing.
The Israeli military stated on Sunday that demolitions would proceed in the area, though searches of houses had not yielded any weapons. Since Friday's attack, Israel has imposed blockades on most Palestinian cities and towns across the West Bank, significantly restricting freedom of movement. Noura Nassar, a displaced resident, recounted difficulties in accessing medical treatment due to these blockades, questioning the concept of democracy when Palestinians face such restrictions.
Both Prime Minister Netanyahu and his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, oppose the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Expelled residents from the Hebron neighborhood expressed skepticism that the election would alter the situation in territories occupied by Israel since 1967, with one resident stating, "Among themselves they will elect who is the oppressor and who will destroy the Palestinian people. That is their election." The current Israeli government has overseen an expansion of Israeli settlements, considered illegal by international bodies, and a rise in settler violence against Palestinians.
