Hebron shooting triggers West Bank closure

The Israeli army reported that two soldiers died in a firefight with Palestinian gunmen on Friday. The incident occurred near Yehuda Junction, just outside Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Three other soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement.

The military stated that the two attackers reached an Israeli position in the morning. They were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. An exchange of fire lasted approximately 20 minutes before troops killed both men. The army identified the suspects as Palestinians from Hebron.

Emergency responders treated five individuals who were taken to hospitals in Israel. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their lower limbs. One other person arrived unconscious and seriously hurt. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, described arriving at a difficult scene while shooting was still active. Authorities have opened an investigation into the incident.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security cabinet meeting following the attack. His office announced that security forces were ordered to cordon off Hebron immediately. Preparations began to close the entire West Bank starting Friday. Netanyahu attributed the attack to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major assault on civilians.

Netanyahu said the soldiers thwarted the attack with courage. The army later reported beginning precise searches in the part of Hebron where the gunmen operated. The operation is expected to last several days. Residents in the targeted area can leave only through three designated exit points after undergoing security screening.

The military also started demolishing infrastructure deemed a threat. Army chief of staff Eyal Zamir stated that a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers. He said the weapons were intended for a larger-scale operation. Forces across the West Bank carried out dozens of raids, arresting dozens of people linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Israeli voters are set to decide on Netanyahu's next term next Tuesday. The election takes place ahead of the anniversary of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Netanyahu suggested Hamas might try to strike Israel to influence the vote, though he provided no evidence. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement in the West Bank.

Netanyahu said the military would force Palestinians out of the specific Hebron neighborhood where the attackers came from. He compared this move to Israel's 2025 assaults on two refugee camps. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate, called the closure an effort to make Palestinian life impossible. Amnesty International has described this year's olive harvest season as a time of heightened settler violence.