West Bank Security: Israel Cords Off Hebron After Fatal Shooting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a major military operation in the West Bank on Friday. The directive followed a shooting that killed two Israeli soldiers near Hebron.

The Israeli military reported that two Palestinian men opened fire at a junction. Troops killed the gunmen at the scene. The dead soldiers were Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Three other soldiers suffered minor injuries.

Soldiers found a large quantity of weapons and ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. The military stated the findings suggested a plan to attack civilians. The shooters used an M16 rifle and a handgun.

Netanyahu instructed troops to evacuate residents from the Hebron neighborhood where the gunmen lived. The area has more than 200,000 inhabitants. He stated, "Our first step will be to demolish this site and completely transform it." He said the Israel Defense Forces would search homes and dismantle terror infrastructure in the area.

Netanyahu called the gunmen Hamas terrorists. The group called the attack heroic and a response to ongoing crimes. Hamas did not claim responsibility but urged armed Palestinians in the West Bank to attack Israeli forces.

The military began offensive counterterrorism operations in Hebron. Soldiers entered the homes of the attackers and other suspects. Israeli forces also arrested about 70 wanted Palestinians in West Bank operations over the past week.

The escalation occurred days before Israeli elections scheduled for Tuesday. Netanyahu made national security a central theme of his campaign. He described the shooting as an attempt to influence the vote. His Likud party said he convened senior security chiefs on Friday and canceled campaign events for the day.