Netanyahu orders West Bank closure after deadly Hebron checkpoint attack

Image: Collected

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to seal off Hebron and prepare for a full closure of the occupied West Bank on Friday, after a shooting near a military checkpoint killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded at least five people. Two Palestinian gunmen were killed in the ensuing firefight.

What happened

The attack took place early on Friday at Yehuda Junction, near Hebron, when two gunmen opened fire on Israeli forces. Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, said at least five people were wounded, two critically; the Israeli military later confirmed that two soldiers died.

Israeli forces killed both attackers after a prolonged exchange of gunfire. The military said it recovered a large quantity of ammunition from the suspects’ vehicle and described the incident as a prevented “major attack.”

Netanyahu’s response

Netanyahu instructed the Israel Defense Forces to impose an immediate cordon on Hebron and prepare for a territory-wide closure of the West Bank beginning Friday. He said troops would conduct widespread arrests and pursue those he described as Hamas operatives and their handlers.

He also announced a planned house-to-house operation in the Hebron neighbourhood where the gunmen lived, saying residents would be evacuated, weapons removed and what Israel calls terror infrastructure dismantled.

Election context

The violence came days before Israel’s general election on Tuesday, with security a central issue in Netanyahu’s campaign. His Likud party cancelled its political events scheduled for Friday morning following the attack.

Israeli media reported that the West Bank had already been expected to face restrictions around the election period, though officials have not said how long the new closure will remain in place.

Wider tensions

The United Nations said it was “extremely alarmed” by intensifying violence in the occupied West Bank following the attack and the sweeping Israeli closures. Palestinian sources reported detentions, home raids and movement restrictions across parts of the Hebron governorate.

The closure is expected to severely restrict Palestinian movement in and out of the territory, although the exact duration and scope remain unclear.