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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank on Friday after a shooting attack near the city of Hebron left at least five people injured. The Israeli military said it killed two Palestinians it accused of carrying out the attack. The incident occurred just days before a national election widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership.
Shooting Near Hebron Triggers Emergency Response
Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, received a report of multiple casualties at around 7:15 a.m. local time near the Yehuda Junction, close to Hebron. First responders treated at least five people, including two in critical condition. The Israeli military said the attackers carried an M16 rifle and a handgun.
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The military killed both suspected gunmen following the attack. However, their identities remained unclear as of late Friday morning. Officials said numerous soldiers would continue operating in the area in the aftermath of the incident.
Netanyahu’s office instructed the Israel Defense Forces to impose a closure on Hebron and to prepare a full West Bank lockdown starting Friday. The government provided no further details on the scope or duration of the planned closure.
Netanyahu Blames Hamas and Vows Action
After an emergency meeting with his Security Cabinet and senior military officials, Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the shooting. He claimed the militant group was planning a major attack aimed at killing civilians. He also cited large quantities of weapons and ammunition discovered, though he offered no additional specifics.
“Our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “I commend them for their actions and wish our wounded a speedy recovery,” he added. He did not clarify whether those injured were soldiers or civilians.
The lockdown comes just days before next Tuesday’s Israeli election. Netanyahu has centered much of his campaign on security issues. His government has repeatedly warned of potential attacks by the country’s enemies in the lead-up to the vote, without providing supporting evidence.
Far-Right Ministers Call for Broader Military Campaign
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the attack to call for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. “There cannot be a situation where, within Judea and Samaria, we have a state of terror,” he wrote on X, using a term some Israelis apply to the West Bank.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed that position. He argued there was “no avoiding a comprehensive military campaign” in the West Bank to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, collect weapons and eliminate what he called terrorists, drawing a direct comparison to Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
Surge in Settler Violence During Olive Harvest Season
The West Bank has been a growing flashpoint for months. In recent weeks, violence has intensified as the Palestinian olive harvesting season got underway. The United Nations recorded at least 160 Israeli settler attacks linked to the harvest in the first two weeks of October alone.
The UN also said many of those attacks took place “under the protection of, or with the participation of, Israeli forces.” Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s government has continued to back settler expansion in the West Bank despite widespread international condemnation.
American citizens are among those caught up in the violence. Earlier this week, New York congressional candidate Brad Lander was detained in the area alongside several activists and American rabbis while accompanying Palestinian farmers. Furthermore, American journalists have also been among those attacked and detained in the territory.
Settler violence during the olive harvest season is not new, but it has grown sharply since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Palestinians have also reported having their olives stolen. Some global officials, including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, have increasingly described the settler violence as terrorism.
