West Bank Closure Traps Residents After Hebron Ambush Kills Two Troops

Friday morning brought a sharp escalation in tensions in the occupied West Bank, ending with the death of two Israeli soldiers and a full territorial shutdown ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The incident began near Yehuda Junction, outside the city of Hebron, where Palestinian gunmen engaged Israeli forces in a firefight that lasted roughly 20 minutes. Both attackers, identified by the army as men from Hebron armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun, were killed. Three other soldiers sustained minor injuries during the exchange.

Emergency responders described arriving at a chaotic scene while gunfire was still active. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, stated that the team encountered a difficult situation with ongoing shooting in the area. Five individuals were transported to hospitals in Israel, including two men in their 20s with gunshot wounds to their lower limbs and one person who was unconscious and seriously injured. The military announced that an investigation into the incident is currently underway.

Netanyahu convened an emergency security cabinet meeting immediately after the shooting. His office directed security forces to cordon off Hebron and prepare to close the entire West Bank, a directive that took effect later on Friday. The Prime Minister attributed the attack to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major assault aimed at killing civilians, though he did not provide specific details on the planned operation. He praised the soldiers for thwarting the attack with courage and determination.

The timeline of the response moved quickly. By late Friday, the army reported beginning precise and targeted searches in the specific area of Hebron where the gunmen operated. This operation is expected to continue for several days. Residents in the affected zone are restricted to leaving their homes only through three designated exit points, where they must undergo questioning and security screening. The military also commenced the demolition of infrastructure described as a threat to security forces.

Eyal Zamir, the army chief of staff, revealed that a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers. He stated the ammunition was intended for a larger-scale attack. In parallel, Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. These actions resulted in the arrest of dozens of people, including members affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and the seizure of weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns.

The closure occurs ahead of elections scheduled for next Tuesday, where Israeli voters will decide on Netanyahu’s next term. The Prime Minister suggested Hamas might attempt to strike Israel to influence the vote, a claim he made without offering specific evidence. This is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement across the West Bank by shutting gates and checkpoints that connect Palestinian villages to main roads.

Netanyahu stated that the military would force Palestinians out of the Hebron neighborhood from which the attackers originated. He compared this approach to Israel’s assaults on two Palestinian refugee camps in 2025. Human Rights Watch has previously stated that such expulsions amount to war crimes, a classification Israel rejects. U.S. congressional candidate Brad Lander, who was in the West Bank on Friday after being detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, described the closure as an effort to take more control and make Palestinian life impossible. The region has also experienced a surge in settler violence during this year’s olive harvest, a period Amnesty International has labeled a season of horror for Palestinian families.