Netanyahu Seals West Bank for Fourth Time Ahead of Election Vote

Israeli soldiers shot and killed two men on Friday morning near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. The military stated that the two gunmen had launched an attack against Israeli civilians. At least five other people were wounded in the incident, with some suffering critical injuries. Authorities have not released the names of the dead or the injured.

The army said the pair was armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. It did not specify the intended target of the attack. Hours after the shooting, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that security forces would cordon off Hebron and implement a full closure of the West Bank starting that same day. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has shut gates and checkpoints linking Palestinian villages to major roads.

The incident occurred days before Israeli voters decide on Tuesday whether to grant Netanyahu another term. The election takes place three years after the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. The government warned that enemies of the state might attempt strikes in the run-up to the vote. Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with his Security Cabinet and top security leaders. He blamed Hamas for the plot, claiming the group was planning a major attack aimed at killing innocent civilians. He praised the troops for thwarting the attack with courage and determination but provided no specific details about the plot.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the incident to argue for tighter controls on Palestinian movement. He stated that the lives of residents in Judea and Samaria, settlers, soldiers, and police are a million times more important than freedom of movement. Emergency responders reported that five people were taken to hospitals in Israel. Tzuriel Edri of the response team said they arrived at the scene near the Yehuda Junction while gunfire was still ongoing. The team found two men in their 20s with gunshot wounds to their lower limbs and another victim who was unconscious and seriously hurt.

The army reported that its soldiers, working with security and intelligence services, carried out dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. They detained dozens of people, including individuals linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Troops also found weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine guns. Israeli roads in the West Bank remain open to Israeli drivers, including settlers, though they may face delays. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.