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Suspected Palestinian militants wounded five Israelis on Friday before two gunmen died in a prolonged shootout, leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order the closure of the West Bank days before Israeli elections.
Facing a tight election race on Tuesday, Netanyahu cancelled all political meetings and instructed military forces to impose a cordon around Hebron.
“I salute the courage of our soldiers who acted with determination and prevented what could have been a major attack,” Netanyahu stated, adding that he instructed security forces “to prepare for a full lockdown of all of Judea and Samaria starting today.”
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The firefight erupted near the Judea Junction checkpoint outside Hebron, where an AFP journalist witnessed two gunmen exchanging fire with Israeli forces before troops shot and killed them.
The Israel Defence Forces confirmed that soldiers eliminated two attackers carrying significant ammunition, while emergency medical service Magen David Adom reported that the initial shooting left five people wounded, including two in critical condition.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded the complete dismantling of the Palestinian Authority following the incident, though officials presented no evidence linking the West Bank leadership to the shooting.
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Meanwhile, Hamas praised the deadly assault as an “exceptional heroic operation” and a natural response to ongoing conflicts, without explicitly claiming responsibility.
Netanyahu vowed to pursue Hamas operatives relentlessly, asserting, “You have no place to hide.”
The attack highlights escalating violence across the West Bank, where Israeli forces or settlers have killed 1,113 Palestinians since October 2023, while Palestinian attacks and military operations have claimed the lives of at least 49 Israelis over the same period.
