Hebron Firefight Cuts Off West Bank Commuters Ahead of Election

The Israeli military has sealed the West Bank, cutting off movement for Palestinian families just days before national elections.

The closure was ordered after a 20-minute firefight near Yehuda Junction outside Hebron on Friday. Two Israeli soldiers were killed in the attack, and three others suffered minor injuries. The two Palestinian gunmen, both from Hebron, were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. The military stated it had foiled an attack on civilians and that the suspects were killed during the exchange.

Emergency responders reported five people injured, including two men in their 20s with gunshot wounds to their lower limbs. One person was unconscious and seriously hurt. Tzuriel Edri of the response team described the scene as difficult, noting that shooting was still active when his unit arrived. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security cabinet meeting following the deaths. His office instructed forces to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to shut down the entire West Bank. Netanyahu attributed the attack to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major strike to kill civilians, though he provided no specific details on that plan. He said the soldiers thwarted the attack with courage and determination.

Military operations in the affected area of Hebron are expected to last several days. Residents can only leave through three designated exit points after undergoing questioning and security screening. The army also began demolishing infrastructure it deemed a threat. Army chief of staff Eyal Zamir announced that a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers, intended for a larger-scale operation.

Security forces conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday, arresting dozens of individuals. Some detainees were affiliated with Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Weapons seized included M16 rifles and submachine guns. These arrests and the regional closure occur next Tuesday, when Israeli voters will decide whether to grant Netanyahu another term.

Netanyahu stated that Hamas might attempt to strike Israel to influence the election, a claim for which he offered no evidence. This is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement across the West Bank by closing gates and checkpoints. Netanyahu said the military would force Palestinians out of the Hebron neighborhood where the attackers originated. Human Rights Watch has described such expulsions as war crimes, a characterization Israel rejects. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate in the West Bank, called the closure part of an effort to make Palestinian life impossible. Amnesty International has described the current olive harvest as a season of horror for families due to a surge in settler violence.