West Bank shut down again as election nears
Israel sealed the territory for the fourth time this month after soldiers killed two men near Hebron.
By Malik Salazar ·
Israeli forces sealed the West Bank on Friday morning, marking the fourth time in the past month that the territory has been closed off. The immediate trigger was a shootout near Hebron in which soldiers killed two men and wounded at least five others.
The closure was ordered by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just hours after the incident. Security forces were instructed to cordon off Hebron and begin a full shutdown of the West Bank. This move restricts movement through gates and checkpoints that connect Palestinian villages to major roads. Israeli roads within the West Bank remain open to local drivers, though delays are expected.
The military stated that troops stopped a terror attack against Israeli civilians. The two gunmen, whose identities have not been released, were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. The army did not specify the intended target of the attack. Emergency responders reported that gunfire was still active when they arrived at the Yehuda Junction. 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 suffered gunshot wounds to the lower limbs, and a third victim was unconscious.
Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of the Security Cabinet and top security officials following the shooting. He attributed the plot to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major attack to kill innocent civilians. The prime minister praised the troops for thwarting the attack with courage and determination, though he provided few details on the specific plan. He also wished the wounded a speedy recovery without clarifying whether they were military or civilian personnel.
The incident occurred days before Israeli voters go to the polls on Tuesday. The election will determine whether Netanyahu secures another term or if the country enters a new political era. The vote takes place three years after the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, that started the war in Gaza. Netanyahu has warned that enemies of Israel might attempt to strike before the election to influence the outcome.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the incident to argue for stricter movement restrictions on Palestinians. He stated that the lives of settlers, soldiers, and police are "a million times more important than freedom of movement." The ministry uses the Israeli term Judea and Samaria to refer to the territory.
On Friday, soldiers working with intelligence services conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank. They detained dozens of people, including individuals linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Troops also seized weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine guns. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the Hebron shootout.
