Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of the occupied West Bank, immediately following two Palestinian gunmen opening fire Friday on an Israeli military checkpoint, wounding at least five.
Two of the people wounded are in critical condition, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service.
The Israeli military imposed “a full siege” on the city of Hebron after the attack. Netanyahu said he ordered the IDF to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank starting today, but it’s unclear exactly when such a full closure will begin or how long it will last.
Both gunmen were shot and killed, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement, as forces continued searches across the area for anyone else who may be connected to the attack. It was not immediately clear if any of the victims were soldiers or civilians.
Videos from the scene depict a firefight between the Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces that lasted at least several minutes with repeated bursts of gunfire ringing out. In one Reuters video, an Israeli responder yells that the shooting has been going on for at least 20 minutes and they were struggling to remove the wounded from the scene.
The attack comes just four days before Israel holds elections for the first time since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, in a crucial test for Netanyahu, who has tried to portray himself as a security hardliner.
The IDF said it located a vehicle used by the gunmen to carry out the attack which was filled with “a large quantity” of ammunition. “This was a serious terror attack,” said IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir following a situation assessment. “The fighters’ rapid action prevented an even more serious attack and further harm to civilians and security forces.” He said the ammunition in the car was intended to be used “to carry out an attack on a much larger scale.”
Zamir said the IDF would also carry out further arrests of suspects and increase intelligence operations in the area.
“We will pursue Hamas terrorists and those who sent them, wherever they are and at all times,” said Netanyahu in a statement.
Hamas praised the attack in a statement but did not claim responsibility.
“Together with all the people of Israel, I pray for the full and speedy recovery of those wounded in the attack,” said Netanyahu’s main rival, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, said in a statement on X.
