‘Everything destroyed’: Hebron businesses count cost of Israeli assault
Israeli demolitions and road closures have devastated businesses in Hebron, leaving owners facing millions in losses.
Hebron, occupied West Bank – Sufyan al-Qawasmi stood near the rubble of his factories in the Farsh al-Hawa area of Hebron, lamenting the business he watched vanish beneath the debris.
Israeli bulldozers demolished the factories on Friday without any prior warning or notice, following a shooting attack carried out by two Palestinians that morning near Hebron’s western entrance. The attack killed two Israeli soldiers, as well as the two Palestinian gunmen, and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to announce a large-scale military operation across Hebron and order preparations for a wider closure of the illegally occupied West Bank.
Demolitions are regularly used by Israel to punish Palestinians, typically the family members of attackers, but in al-Qawasmi’s case, for the misfortune of being close to the site of an attack. Human rights groups decry the practice, which is regarded as collective punishment.
Adnan al-Natsha, vice president of the Hebron Chamber of Commerce, told Al Jazeera that there are no precise figures yet regarding the total losses resulting from the Israeli military operation so far. He noted that work is currently under way to compile statistics on the damage inflicted on businesses and homes, losses estimated to be in the millions of dollars.