Israel Closes West Bank After Hebron Shootout Kills Two Soldiers

Two Israeli soldiers died in a shooting near Hebron on Friday.

The Israeli army said Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a military position outside the city. The exchange lasted about 20 minutes. Both attackers, identified as Palestinians from Hebron, were killed. They carried an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. Three other soldiers sustained minor injuries.

Emergency responders treated five people at the scene. Some were critically hurt. Two men in their 20s had gunshot wounds to their legs. One person remained unconscious. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, stated that the team arrived while shooting was still occurring. The victims were transported to hospitals in Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with his security cabinet. His office ordered a cordon around Hebron and a closure of the entire West Bank. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has shut gates and checkpoints linking Palestinian villages to main roads. Netanyahu accused Hamas of planning a major attack on civilians. He did not provide details on the specific plan he referenced.

The military began precise searches in the area where the gunmen operated. The operation is expected to last several days. Residents must exit through three designated points after security screening. The army also started demolishing infrastructure it deemed a threat. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced that a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers. He said the ammunition was intended for a larger scale attack.

Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. Authorities arrested dozens of people, including members affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Seized weapons included M16 rifles and submachine guns. Netanyahu said the military would force Palestinians out of the specific Hebron neighborhood where the attackers emerged. He compared the approach to Israeli assaults on two refugee camps in 2025.

Human Rights Watch has described such expulsions as war crimes, a claim Israel rejects. U.S. congressional candidate Brad Lander, who was detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, called the closure an effort to take more control of Palestinian life. The violence occurs as Israeli voters decide next Tuesday whether to grant Netanyahu another term. He warned that Hamas might strike to influence the election, though he offered no evidence. Amnesty International has labeled this year's olive harvest season a period of horror for Palestinian families due to settler violence.