Two Dead, Five Wounded as 20-Minute Hebron Fight Seals West Bank

The Israeli military announced Friday that two soldiers were killed in a shootout with Palestinian gunmen near the Yehuda Junction outside Hebron. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of the occupied West Bank in response to the attack. Both gunmen died during the exchange of fire, which lasted approximately 20 minutes in the morning.

Three other soldiers sustained minor injuries. Emergency responders reported treating five people, with some in critical condition. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their lower limbs, and one person was unconscious with serious injuries. All were transported to hospitals in Israel. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, stated that responders arrived while active shooting continued in the area.

The military identified the two suspects as Palestinians from Hebron who were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. Authorities said the men reached an Israeli military position, triggering the firefight. An investigation is currently underway to determine the full scope of the incident.

Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with senior security officials. His office directed security forces to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to close the entire territory. The prime minister blamed Hamas for the incident, claiming the group was planning a major attack to kill civilians. He stated that soldiers thwarted the attack with courage and determination, though he did not specify the nature of the planned assault.

Later on Friday, the army initiated precise searches in the part of Hebron where the gunmen operated. This operation is expected to last several days. Residents in the affected area can only leave through three designated exit points after undergoing questioning and security screening. The military also began demolishing infrastructure it deemed a threat. Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers, which was intended for a larger-scale strike.

Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. Officials reported arresting dozens of people, including those affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and seizing weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns. This incident marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement across the territory by shutting gates and checkpoints.

The violence occurs as Israeli voters prepare to decide next Tuesday whether to grant Netanyahu another term. Ahead of the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, the prime minister suggested Hamas could try to strike Israel to influence the election. Netanyahu said the military would force Palestinians out of the Hebron neighborhood from which the attackers came, comparing the move to previous assaults on Palestinian refugee camps in 2025.

Human Rights Watch has described such expulsions as war crimes, a characterization Israel rejects. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate who was detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, called the closure an effort to make Palestinian life impossible. The West Bank has also experienced a surge in settler violence during this year's olive harvest, a period Amnesty International has termed a season of horror for Palestinian families.