Netanyahu Orders West Bank Sealed After Hebron Firefight Kills Two Troops

Israeli voters face a closed West Bank and a surge in military activity just days before elections, following a violent ambush in Hebron that killed two soldiers on Friday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the immediate closure of the territory after the attack, which also resulted in the deaths of two Palestinian gunmen. The Israeli army confirmed the incident occurred near the Yehuda Junction outside the city of Hebron, where three other soldiers sustained minor injuries. Emergency services reported five total injuries, including two men in their 20s with gunshot wounds to their legs and one unconscious individual who was seriously hurt. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, described the arrival at the scene as difficult, noting that shooting was still active when responders reached the area.

The timeline of events began in the morning when the two armed men approached an Israeli military position. They were equipped with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. A twenty-minute exchange of fire ensued before Israeli troops killed both attackers. The military stated that the operation had foiled a planned attack on Israeli civilians. Following the firefight, authorities launched an investigation and began precise searches in the specific part of Hebron where the gunmen operated. Residents in that area must now exit through three designated points after undergoing questioning and security screening. The military also started demolishing infrastructure it deemed a threat, and army chief of staff Eyal Zamir reported finding a large quantity of ammunition in a vehicle used by the attackers. Zamir indicated the weapons were intended for a larger-scale assault.

Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of his security cabinet with senior military officials to coordinate the response. His office directed security forces to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to close the entire West Bank starting Friday. Netanyahu attributed the attack to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major offensive to kill innocent civilians, although he did not provide specific details on the planned strike. He praised his soldiers for thwarting the attack with courage. Later on Friday, Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank. These actions included the arrest of dozens of individuals, some affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and the seizure of weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns.

The military closure coincides with the national election scheduled for next Tuesday, when voters will decide whether to grant Netanyahu another term. Ahead of the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack, Netanyahu suggested Hamas might strike to influence the election results, though he offered no evidence for this claim. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement in the West Bank by shutting gates and checkpoints. Netanyahu stated that the military would force Palestinians out of the specific Hebron neighborhood where the attackers emerged. He compared this strategy to Israel's previous assaults on two Palestinian refugee camps in 2025. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate who was detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, described the closure as an effort to make Palestinian life impossible. Human Rights Watch has previously characterized such expulsions as war crimes, a classification Israel rejects. Amnesty International has also noted a surge in settler violence during this year's olive harvest, which it calls a season of horror for Palestinian families.

The search operation in Hebron is expected to last several days. The military continues its thorough sweeps in the targeted area while maintaining the perimeter around the neighborhood. Security forces remain on high alert across the territory as the election date approaches. The closure of the West Bank gates and checkpoints significantly limits the movement of Palestinian residents and workers. Israeli authorities maintain that these measures are necessary to prevent further attacks and ensure security during the critical pre-election period. The investigation into the Hebron ambush is ongoing, with officials examining the seized ammunition and the vehicle used by the gunmen. The military has not released further details on the specific nature of the planned attack that was thwarted. The situation remains tense in the region as both sides monitor the security developments.