West Bank Security: Fourth Monthly Closure Begins

Israeli forces killed two men in the West Bank on Friday morning and sealed the territory's borders.

The military stated that the two men launched an attack against Israeli civilians near Hebron. Soldiers stopped the incident and killed the gunmen, who were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. At least five people were wounded, with some injuries described as critical. The army did not specify the intended target of the attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced the security cordon of Hebron and the full closure of the West Bank a few hours after the shooting. The closure began immediately on Friday. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has imposed such restrictions, shutting gates and checkpoints that link Palestinian villages to major roads. Israeli roads within the West Bank remain open to Israeli drivers, though they may face delays.

The incident occurred days before Israeli voters head to the polls on Tuesday. The election will determine whether Netanyahu secures another term. The government warned that adversaries might attempt strikes before the vote. Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of the Security Cabinet and military leaders. He attributed the plot to Hamas, claiming the group planned a major attack to kill civilians. He described the troops' actions as courageous but provided no specific details on the plot's scope.

Emergency responders reported that gunfire was still active when they reached the scene near Yehuda Junction. Tzuriel Edri of the response team said the team arrived at a difficult scene while shooting continued. Five people were transported to hospitals in Israel. Two men in their 20s sustained gunshot wounds to their lower limbs, and a third victim was unconscious and seriously injured. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the incident to argue for stricter limits on Palestinian movement. He stated that the lives of settlers, soldiers, and police are far more important than freedom of movement. He referred to the territory using the Israeli term Judea and Samaria. The army reported that soldiers conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday, working with intelligence services. They detained dozens of people, including individuals linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and found weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns.