West Bank gates close after Hebron shootout

Two Israeli soldiers died on Friday when Palestinian gunmen attacked a military position near the Yehuda Junction outside Hebron. The Israeli army confirmed the deaths and stated that the two attackers were also killed during the incident. Three additional soldiers sustained minor injuries during the confrontation.

The military reported that the exchange of fire began in the morning and continued for approximately 20 minutes. The two men, identified as Palestinians from Hebron, were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. Army officials said they had intercepted a planned attack on Israeli civilians. After the shooting ended, emergency services transported five injured individuals to hospitals in Israel. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their legs, while one person was unconscious and seriously hurt.

Tzuriel Edri, a member of the emergency response team, described the arrival at the scene. "We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area," Edri said. Authorities opened an investigation into the incident immediately after the gunmen were neutralized.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with his security cabinet and senior military officials. His office instructed security forces to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to close the entire West Bank. Netanyahu attributed the incident to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major attack to kill innocent civilians. He stated, "our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination." The prime minister did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the planned attack.

Later on Friday, the army announced the start of precise and thorough searches in the section of Hebron where the gunmen operated. The operation is expected to continue for several days. Residents in that area will only be permitted to leave through three designated exit points after undergoing security screening and questioning. The military also began demolishing local infrastructure that it described as a threat. Eyal Zamir, the army chief of staff, said a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers. He indicated the ammunition was intended for a larger-scale operation.

Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. Dozens of people were arrested, including members affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Security forces seized weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine guns, during these sweeps.

The incident occurred as Israeli voters prepare to decide on Tuesday whether to grant Netanyahu another term in office. Ahead of the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack, Netanyahu suggested Hamas might try to strike Israel to influence the election, though he offered no evidence for this claim. This is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement across the West Bank by shutting gates and checkpoints. These closures isolate Palestinian villages from main roads.

Netanyahu stated that the military would force Palestinians out of the Hebron neighborhood where the attackers originated. He compared this approach to Israel's assaults on two Palestinian refugee camps in 2025. Human Rights Watch has stated that such expulsions amount to war crimes, a characterization Israel rejects. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate who was detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, called the closure part of an effort to take more control and make Palestinian life impossible. Amnesty International described this year's olive harvest season as a period of horror for Palestinian families due to a surge in settler violence.

The West Bank remains under a full closure order as the search operation in Hebron continues. Residents in the affected area are restricted to specific exit points while security forces conduct their review of the zone.