Netanyahu orders West Bank closure as attack wounds Israelis before election
Israeli forces tighten security in West Bank after Hebron-area shooting
Bdbusinessdaily.com – Israeli authorities moved to seal off Hebron and prepare broader restrictions across the occupied West Bank after two Palestinian gunmen wounded five Israelis in a shooting attack on 23 October, days before an Israeli election.
The attackers were killed during an exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers near the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint, close to Hebron. The violence unfolded early in the day near Judea Junction, an area frequently used by travellers and security forces in the southern West Bank.
Israel’s emergency rescue service, Magen David Adom, said the five wounded Israelis were all in their 20s. Two were listed in critical condition, while one man suffered gunshot injuries described as very serious.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attackers had carried a significant amount of ammunition in their vehicle and that soldiers had stopped an assault that could have caused far greater casualties. He cancelled Likud political gatherings planned for Friday as the country prepared to vote on Tuesday.
"I salute the courage of our soldiers who acted with determination and prevented what could have been a major attack," Netanyahu said.
Hebron cordon and wider restrictions
Netanyahu instructed the army and security services to impose an immediate cordon on Hebron, while preparing what he called a full lockdown throughout Judea and Samaria, the Israeli term used for the occupied West Bank.
"I have instructed the IDF and security forces to impose an immediate cordon on the city of Hebron and to prepare for a full lockdown of all of Judea and Samaria starting today," Netanyahu said.
He said Israeli forces were expanding operations intended to prevent further attacks and carrying out large arrest campaigns. The military said troops had launched counter-terrorism activity in the Hebron area, including raids on homes connected to the suspects and other individuals.
An AFP photographer travelling through the area witnessed the confrontation as it began. The photographer saw two Palestinian men, one armed with a handgun and the other with an automatic rifle, firing at Israeli forces. Their bodies were later seen beside a petrol station while troops deployed around the site.
The Israeli military said soldiers sent to the junction after the shooting had “eliminated two terrorists.”
Political pressure before the vote
The attack has intensified an already charged political atmosphere before Israel’s election. Netanyahu is facing a close contest for another term, and security has again become central to public debate.
Gadi Eisenkot, the former army chief and Netanyahu’s leading election rival, praised the soldiers’ response and expressed concern for those injured.
"Like all Israelis, I pray for the complete and quick recovery of the injured," Eisenkot said.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a sweeping military operation in the West Bank comparable to Israel’s campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. Smotrich, who also holds a role in the defence ministry, argued for dismantling the Palestinian Authority, collecting weapons and targeting militants.
"There is no other option but a comprehensive military campaign in Judea and Samaria to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, collect weapons and eliminate terrorists. Exactly like in Gaza and Lebanon," Smotrich said.
He later said he had ordered the immediate demolition of what he described as a wide row of illegal Arab structures near the attack location.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, another prominent far-right figure, called for the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority to be dismantled and demilitarised, and for its alleged militant infrastructure to be destroyed. No evidence linked the Palestinian Authority to the shooting.
Hamas praises assailants
Hamas did not claim responsibility for the attack, but praised it as a “heroic operation” and mourned the two Palestinians who were killed. The Gaza-based movement described the shooting as a response to what it called continuing crimes and attacks against Palestinians.
"Natural and legitimate response to the ongoing crimes and brutal attacks against our people," Hamas said in its statement.
The group urged supporters to mobilise and called on people with weapons to carry out further attacks. Hamas and Fatah, the faction that leads the Palestinian Authority, are longstanding political rivals.
Netanyahu responded by pledging to pursue Hamas members wherever they were located.
"You have no place to hide," Netanyahu said.
The incident comes amid heightened tension across the West Bank. Palestinian communities have faced mounting pressure during the olive harvest season, including attacks by extremist Israeli settlers against harvesters. Israeli military activity, arrests and restrictions on movement have also remained a defining part of daily life in many parts of the territory.
Hebron is particularly sensitive because it is home to a large Palestinian population as well as heavily protected Israeli settlements. Security arrangements in and around the city often involve checkpoints, military patrols and movement controls. A full closure across the West Bank could further affect travel, employment, medical access and family movement for Palestinians, while Israeli officials present such measures as necessary to prevent additional attacks.
The shooting and the political demands that followed underline how quickly security incidents can shape the election campaign, deepen tensions on the ground and raise fears of further violence in the days ahead.
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