West Bank closed after 20-minute firefight kills two soldiers

The Israeli government shut down the entire West Bank on Friday following a fatal ambush that claimed the lives of two soldiers near Hebron. The military confirmed that two Palestinian gunmen reached an Israeli position at Yehuda Junction, triggering a gun battle that lasted approximately 20 minutes.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of the territory after convening an emergency meeting of his security cabinet. His office stated that security forces were instructed to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to seal the rest of the West Bank. Netanyahu attributed the incident to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major attack on civilians, although he provided no specific details on the planned operation.

The Israeli army identified the two attackers as residents of Hebron who were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. Troops killed both men during the exchange. The military said the operation foiled a planned strike against civilians. Three other soldiers sustained light injuries in the firefight.

Emergency responders reported five people were injured and transported to hospitals in Israel. Among them were two men in their 20s with gunshot wounds to their lower limbs and one person who was unconscious and seriously hurt. Tzuriel Edri of the response team described the scene as difficult, noting that shooting was still occurring when they arrived.

Army chief of staff Eyal Zamir stated that a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers, which he said was intended for a larger-scale attack. The military has begun precise searches in the sector of Hebron where the gunmen operated. Residents of that area must now exit through three designated points after undergoing security screening. The operation is expected to last several days.

Security forces also demolished infrastructure described as a threat and conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. These actions resulted in the arrest of dozens of individuals, including members affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and the seizure of weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns.

The incident occurred ahead of elections scheduled for next Tuesday, where voters will decide whether to grant Netanyahu another term. Netanyahu warned that Hamas might attempt to strike Israel to influence the vote. This is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement in the West Bank by closing gates and checkpoints.

Netanyahu said the military would force Palestinians out of the Hebron neighborhood where the attackers were based, a tactic similar to previous assaults on refugee camps. U.S. congressional candidate Brad Lander, who was in the West Bank on Friday, called the closure an effort to make Palestinian life impossible.