West Bank Shutdown: Israel Orders Full Closure After Hebron Shooting

Israeli soldiers shot and killed two men near Hebron in the West Bank on Friday morning, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full closure of the territory starting the same day. At least five people were wounded, some critically. The identities of the dead and injured have not been released.

The army said its troops stopped a "terror attack against Israeli civilians." It reported that the two men carried an M16 rifle and a handgun, and it did not identify a target. Hours after the shooting, Netanyahu's office said security forces had been told to cordon off Hebron and prepare to close the entire West Bank from Friday.

Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet with military and security agency leaders after the incident. He blamed Hamas, saying the group was "planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians," and said troops "thwarted this attack with courage and determination." He gave no details on any plot and did not say whether the wounded were soldiers or civilians.

The vote on Tuesday will decide whether Netanyahu stays in office. It falls three years after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks that opened the war in Gaza. The government has said its "enemies" may try to strike before the election. Ahead of the anniversary, Netanyahu said Hamas might hit Israel to affect the result, without presenting evidence.

Earlier on Friday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the attack showed why movement in the West Bank must be limited. "The lives of the residents of Judea and Samaria, of the settlers, the lives of the soldiers, the lives of the police officers, the lives of our fighters are a million times more important than freedom of movement," he said. Judea and Samaria is the Israeli term for the territory.

Responders reported gunfire was still under way when they reached the Yehuda Junction area. Tzuriel Edri of the response team said, "We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area." Two men in their 20s had gunshot wounds to the lower limbs, and another person was unconscious and seriously hurt. Five people were taken to hospitals in Israel. Authorities said an investigation is ongoing.

The army also said its soldiers, with Israeli security and intelligence services, ran dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday and detained dozens of people, including some linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Troops reported finding M16 rifles and submachine guns.

This is the fourth time in a month that Israel has restricted movement across the territory, closing gates and checkpoints that connect Palestinian villages to main roads. Israeli roads in the West Bank stay open to Israeli drivers, including settlers, who may face delays.