Netanyahu Orders Full West Bank Closure After Fatal Shooting Near Hebron

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full closure of the West Bank on Friday after Israeli soldiers killed two men near Hebron. The directive required security forces to cordon off the city immediately and seal the entire territory. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has imposed such restrictions on the area.

Israeli troops stopped what the military described as a terror attack against civilians on Friday morning. The army stated that the two gunmen were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. At least five people were wounded in the incident, with some injured critically. The identities of the dead and the injured have not been released.

Emergency responders reported that gunfire was still active when they arrived at the scene near Yehuda Junction. Tzuriel Edri of the response team said, "We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area." Medics transported five people to hospitals in Israel. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their lower limbs, while a third victim was unconscious and seriously hurt.

Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet and leaders of the main military and security agencies. He blamed Hamas for the incident, claiming the group was planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians. The Prime Minister praised the troops for thwarting the attack with courage and determination, though he provided no details on the specific plot. He also wished the wounded a speedy recovery without specifying whether they were soldiers or civilians.

The shooting occurred just days before Israeli voters go to the polls on Tuesday. The election will determine whether Netanyahu serves another term or if the country moves into a new political era. This vote takes place three years after the Hamas-led attacks that started the war in Gaza. The Israeli government has cautioned that enemies may try to strike in the run-up to the election.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the attack to argue for limiting Palestinian freedom of movement. The far-right minister said, "The lives of the residents of Judea and Samaria, of the settlers, the lives of the soldiers, the lives of the police officers, the lives of our fighters are a million times more important than freedom of movement." He used the Israeli term for the territory in his remarks.

On Friday, the army reported that soldiers working with intelligence services carried out dozens of operations across the West Bank. Troops detained dozens of people, including individuals linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Military forces also found weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns during these raids.

Israeli roads in the West Bank remain open to Israeli drivers, including settlers, who may face delays. The closure shuts gates and checkpoints that link Palestinian villages to major roads. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.