Israel seals off West Bank after two soldiers die in Hebron ambush

Two Israeli soldiers died on Friday when Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a military position near Yehuda Junction, just outside the city of Hebron. The Israeli army confirmed the deaths and stated that both attackers were killed in the exchange, which lasted approximately 20 minutes. Three other soldiers sustained light injuries during the firefight.

Emergency services transported five people to hospitals in Israel. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their lower legs. One additional person was unconscious and seriously injured. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, described the scene as difficult because shooting was still occurring when responders arrived. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

The military identified the two suspects as Palestinians from Hebron who were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. The army stated it had intercepted a terror attack planned against Israeli civilians. Following the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with his security cabinet and senior military officials. His office directed security forces to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to close the entire West Bank starting Friday.

Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the attack, claiming the group was planning a major operation to kill innocent civilians. He did not provide specific details about the planned attack. He stated that his soldiers thwarted the assault with courage and determination. The military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, said a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers. He indicated this ammunition was intended for a larger-scale attack.

The army began precise searches in the part of Hebron where the gunmen operated. This operation is expected to last several days. Residents of the area can only leave through three designated exit points after undergoing questioning and security screening. The military also started demolishing infrastructure that it described as a threat. Israeli forces conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday, arresting dozens of people linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. They also seized weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine guns.

This closure occurs ahead of national elections scheduled for next Tuesday, where voters will decide whether to give Netanyahu another term. He suggested Hamas might attempt to strike Israel to influence the election, though he offered no evidence. This is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement across the West Bank by shutting gates and checkpoints. Netanyahu said the military would force Palestinians out of the Hebron neighborhood where the attackers came from. He compared this approach to Israel's assaults on two Palestinian refugee camps in 2025.

Human Rights Watch has stated such expulsions amount to war crimes, a characterization Israel rejects. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate who was in the West Bank on Friday, called the closure an effort to take more control and make Palestinian life impossible. Lander was detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday. Amnesty International has described this year's olive harvest as a season of horror for Palestinian families due to a surge in settler violence.