Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a major military operation in the occupied West Bank after two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded in a shooting attack near Hebron. The incident, which occurred on Friday morning, has prompted Israeli forces to cordon off the city and prepare for a full closure of the West Bank, according to official statements.
The Israeli military said that two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a junction near Hebron, killing two soldiers before being shot dead by Israeli forces. Emergency responders reported that five people were injured in the attack, some critically, and were evacuated to hospitals in Israel. The attackers were reportedly armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun, and a large cache of weapons and ammunition was found in their vehicle, according to the Israeli military.
Following the attack, Netanyahu announced that security forces would evacuate residents from the attackers’ neighborhood in Hebron and conduct a house-to-house search for weapons. He also ordered the destruction of what he described as terrorist infrastructure in the area. The prime minister’s office instructed the army to immediately cordon off Hebron and prepare to fully close all of the West Bank, starting Friday.
The attack comes just days before Israeli elections, with security concerns and the government’s response to violence in the West Bank emerging as central campaign issues. Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States, called on Palestinians in the West Bank to carry out further attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians.
Israeli security and intelligence agencies have launched dozens of operations in the West Bank in the wake of the attack, detaining numerous individuals, including those affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, according to military sources. The military said these actions are part of a broader effort to prevent further attacks and dismantle militant networks in the region.
The West Bank has seen heightened tensions and frequent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, particularly since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023. The region remains a flashpoint in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides accusing each other of escalating violence and targeting civilians.
Netanyahu has framed the latest operation as a necessary response to what he describes as a growing threat from militant groups in the West Bank. Israeli officials allege that the attackers were planning a major assault on civilians, citing the weapons discovered in their possession.
As of Friday, the Israeli military continues to enforce the closure of Hebron and is preparing for an extended operation across the West Bank. The situation remains tense, with further developments expected as security forces carry out searches and detentions in the area. It is not yet clear how long the closure will remain in effect or what the broader implications will be for residents on both sides of the conflict.
The image accompanying this article is an AI-generated illustrative depiction inspired by the actual scene of the event.
