West Bank Shuts Down After 20-Minute Fight Leaves Two Soldiers Dead

A 20-minute exchange of gunfire ended on Friday with the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinian gunmen near Hebron. The violence triggered an immediate order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seal off the West Bank, trapping residents inside as security forces launched a multi-day search operation.

The Israeli military reported that the incident occurred near Yehuda Junction, outside the city of Hebron. Three other soldiers sustained light injuries during the confrontation. Emergency responders treated five people in total, some of them critically, and transported them to hospitals in Israel. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, stated that his crew arrived at the scene while shooting was still active. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their lower limbs, while one other person was found unconscious and seriously hurt.

Military officials identified the attackers as two Palestinians from Hebron who were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. The army said the men reached an Israeli military position in the morning before troops engaged them. After the fight ended, the military announced the start of precise and targeted searches in the specific part of Hebron where the gunmen operated. Residents are restricted to leaving through three designated exit points, where they must undergo questioning and security screening. The military also began demolishing local infrastructure that it described as a threat.

Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with his security cabinet and senior military leaders. His office confirmed that security forces were instructed to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to close the entire West Bank. The prime minister blamed Hamas for the attack, claiming the group was planning a major operation to kill innocent civilians. He noted that his soldiers thwarted this plan with courage and determination, though he provided no specific details about the planned assault.

Army chief of staff Eyal Zamir said a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers. He stated the supplies were intended for a larger-scale attack. On Friday, Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank. These actions resulted in the arrest of dozens of people, including members affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and the seizure of weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns.

This is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement by shutting gates and checkpoints. The closure comes just days before Israeli voters decide on a new prime minister next Tuesday. Netanyahu suggested Hamas might try to strike Israel to influence the election, although he offered no evidence for this claim. He also said the military would force Palestinians out of the Hebron neighborhood where the attackers came from, a move similar to Israel's assaults on refugee camps in 2025.

Human Rights Watch has described such expulsions as war crimes, a characterization Israel rejects. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate who was detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, called the closure an effort to take more control and make Palestinian life impossible. Amnesty International has noted a surge in settler violence during the olive harvest this year, describing the period as a season of horror for Palestinian families.