Two Killed Near Hebron Trigger Fourth West Bank Closure

Israeli soldiers shot and killed two men near the city of Hebron on Friday morning, an action that immediately preceded a full border closure of the occupied West Bank. The military stated the two were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun and had launched a terror attack against civilians. At least five people were wounded, with some sustaining critical injuries. The identities of the deceased and the injured have not been released.

The closure marks the fourth time in the past 30 days that Israel has sealed the territory, shutting gates and checkpoints that connect Palestinian villages to main roads. Israeli roads within the West Bank remain open to local drivers, including settlers, though they may experience delays. The restriction began hours after the shooting, as the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to cordon off Hebron and prepare for a total shutdown.

The incident occurred three days before Israeli voters decide whether to retain Netanyahu or move toward a new political direction. The election takes place three years after the Hamas-led attacks that started the war in Gaza. Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet and top military leaders following the shooting. He blamed Hamas for plotting a major attack to kill innocent civilians and praised the troops for thwarting the plot with courage.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the incident to argue for stricter movement restrictions. He stated that the lives of residents, settlers, soldiers, and police in Judea and Samaria are far more important than freedom of movement. Emergency responders reported arriving at the Yehuda Junction while gunfire was still active. They treated two men in their 20s for lower-limb gunshot wounds and one unconscious victim. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, described the scene as difficult due to ongoing firefights.

The army reported conducting dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday in coordination with intelligence services. Troops detained dozens of individuals linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Security forces also seized weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine guns. Netanyahu had previously warned that Hamas might strike Israel to influence the election result, though he provided no specific evidence for that claim. Authorities said an investigation into the Hebron shooting is ongoing.