West Bank Sealed as Two Soldiers Die in Hebron Ambush

Two Israeli soldiers died on Friday when Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a military post near Yehuda Junction, outside Hebron. The Israeli army confirmed the deaths and stated that the two attackers also perished in the exchange, which lasted approximately 20 minutes. Three additional soldiers sustained minor injuries during the engagement.

The incident triggered an immediate security response from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who convened an emergency session of the security cabinet. His office announced that security forces would cordon off Hebron and prepare to shut down movement across the entire West Bank beginning Friday. Netanyahu attributed the attack to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major operation to kill civilians, though he did not specify the details of that plan. He described the soldiers as having thwarted the attack with courage and determination.

Emergency responders treated five individuals at local hospitals, noting that some were critically injured. Tzuriel Edri of the response team described arriving at the scene while shooting was still active. Authorities identified the two gunmen as Palestinians from Hebron armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. An investigation into the shooting is currently underway.

In the hours following the ambush, the army began precise searches in the section of Hebron where the attackers operated. This operation is expected to continue for several days. Residents of the area are permitted to leave only through three designated exit points after undergoing questioning and security screening. The military also initiated the demolition of infrastructure deemed a threat. Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated that a large quantity of ammunition was discovered in a vehicle used by the attackers, intended for a larger-scale operation.

Across the West Bank, Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations on Friday. These efforts resulted in the arrest of dozens of individuals, including affiliates of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and the seizure of weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns. This violence occurs just days before Israeli voters decide on November 3 whether to grant Netanyahu another term.

Netanyahu warned that Hamas might attempt to strike Israel to influence the election, a claim he made without providing specific evidence. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement in the West Bank by closing gates and checkpoints. The Prime Minister indicated that the military would force Palestinians out of the specific Hebron neighborhood from which the attackers came, a tactic similar to recent assaults on refugee camps. Human Rights Watch has characterized such expulsions as war crimes, a view Israel rejects. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate detained by Israeli forces earlier in the week, described the closure as an effort to make Palestinian life impossible. The West Bank has also experienced a surge in settler violence during this year's olive harvest, which Amnesty International called a season of horror for Palestinian families.