The Israeli government acknowledged to the High Court of Justice on Sunday that parts of two commercial properties near Hebron’s northern entrance were demolished without prior notice or hearing, stating that the military commander deemed the demolition urgent. The action followed a deadly shooting attack in Hebron on October 23, in which two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed.

The demolition affected approximately 17 dunams of business premises, including offices, display areas, and merchandise belonging to Mustafa and Sufian Qawasmeh and the Al-Quds ceramics and sanitary ware company. The business owners filed a petition through attorney Muhammad Dahleh to halt the demolitions, arguing that the measures constituted collective punishment and that they had no involvement with the attack. They asserted that the gunmen had entered the site by climbing over a locked gate and that the business was closed on the day of the attack except for a lone guard.

According to the petition, the owners were instructed by soldiers to remove goods prior to demolition without receiving a formal written order or an explanation of how to contest the decision. The petition highlights that the affected parties deny any prior knowledge or assistance to the attackers and deny any connection to the incident.

The state’s response, submitted to the court on Sunday, stated that the demolition work had been carried out before officials were made aware of the petition and that the military immediately halted further demolition upon receipt of the petition. The government also admitted it failed to post a demolition notice at the site due to an administrative error but maintained that the urgency of the situation justified bypassing standard procedure.

This case is distinct from wider measures imposed across Hebron following the attack, which have included the evacuation of Palestinian residents and restrictions throughout the city. Justice Gila Canfy Steinitz, in her initial ruling on Friday, instructed the state to respond and indicated that the court expected authorities to maintain the status quo while the matter was under consideration.

The government’s account of events differed from the petitioners’ claims, but detailed information regarding the specifics of their version was not provided in the official response submitted to the court. The legal proceedings continue as the court weighs the petition challenging the demolition actions carried out in the wake of the lethal attack.