Israel Seals West Bank Borders Before Tuesday Election

Israel ordered a full closure of the West Bank on Friday morning, the fourth such restriction in the past month. The directive came shortly after Israeli soldiers killed two men near Hebron, an event military officials described as an attempted attack on civilians. The shutdown will remain in effect through Tuesday, the day Israeli voters head to the polls to decide the fate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

The initial confrontation happened near the Yehuda Junction. Emergency responders reported that gunfire was still active when they arrived at the scene. Five individuals were transported to hospitals in Israel, with several sustaining critical injuries. Two of the victims were men in their 20s who suffered gunshot wounds to their legs, while a third arrived unconscious. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, stated that the crew reached a difficult environment while the exchange of fire continued in the area.

The Israeli army announced that its troops stopped a terror attack against civilians. Military spokespeople said the two gunmen were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun, though officials did not specify the intended target. The identities of the deceased and the injured have not been released to the public. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

Hours after the shooting, the office of Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed security forces to cordon off Hebron immediately. The prime minister subsequently convened an emergency meeting with his Security Cabinet and heads of major security agencies. Netanyahu attributed the plot to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major attack aimed at killing innocent civilians. He praised the soldiers for their courage in thwarting the operation, though he provided few details on the specific nature of the planned strike.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the incident to argue for stricter controls on Palestinian movement. Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician, stated that the lives of settlers, soldiers, and police officers were vastly more important than the freedom of movement for residents of the territory. He referred to the West Bank using the Israeli designation of Judea and Samaria in his remarks.

On the same day, Israeli military personnel conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank in coordination with intelligence services. Security forces detained dozens of individuals, including associates linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Soldiers reported seizing weapons at multiple sites, including M16 rifles and submachine guns.

The timing of the closure aligns with warnings issued by the government regarding potential strikes by enemies in the lead-up to the election. The vote takes place three years after the Hamas-led attacks that triggered the war in Gaza. Netanyahu had previously suggested that Hamas might attempt to influence the election result, a claim he made without presenting specific evidence.

Under the closure orders, gates and checkpoints linking Palestinian villages to major roads have been shut. Israeli roads within the West Bank remain open to Israeli drivers and settlers, although they may experience delays. The restriction marks the fourth time in the last month that Israel has imposed such wide-ranging movement limits across the territory.