Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of the occupied West Bank after two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an Israeli military checkpoint on Friday, injuring at least five people.
Two of the injured are in critical condition, according to Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom.
The attack came just four days before Israel holds elections for the first time since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, a crucial test for Netanyahu, who has sought to portray himself as a security hardliner.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was imposing “a complete siege” on the city of Hebron after the attack and Netanyahu said he had ordered a total shutdown of the West Bank starting Friday.
But it was not clear exactly when such a total shutdown would begin or how long it would last.
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A video shared on social media shows bodies lying on the ground and a damaged vehicle as Israeli forces secure the scene following a shooting incident that injured five Israelis in the occupied West Bank.
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A video shared on social media shows bodies lying on the ground and a damaged vehicle as Israeli forces secure the scene following a shooting incident that injured five Israelis in the occupied West Bank.
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IDF locks down West Bank after five Israelis injured in shooting
There are more than 900 Israeli military checkpoints, gates and barriers in the West Bank. And while closures and restrictions around checkpoints between Palestinian towns and villages are commonplace in the territory, particularly around Jewish holidays and important events, Israel does not have the forces necessary to close all checkpoints and impose a complete closure that would completely prevent Palestinian movement.
A complete closure will also prevent Palestinians with Israeli ID cards or work permits from entering Israel, but this number is already extremely limited.
The two gunmen were shot dead, the Israeli military said in a statement, as forces continued to search the area for anyone else who may be linked to the attack. It was not immediately clear whether the victims were soldiers or civilians.
Videos from the scene show an exchange of fire between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces that lasted at least several minutes with repeated bursts. In a Reuters video, an Israeli speaker shouts that the shooting has been going on for at least 20 minutes and that they were having difficulty evacuating the wounded from the scene.
The Israeli military said it had located a vehicle used by the gunmen to carry out the attack, which was filled with a “large quantity” of ammunition. “This is a serious terrorist attack,” IDF Chief of Staff General Eyal Zamir said after assessing the situation. “The fighters’ rapid action prevented an even more serious attack and further damage to civilians and security forces. He said the munitions in the car were intended to be used “to carry out an attack on a much larger scale.”
Zamir said the IDF would also make further arrests of suspects and increase intelligence operations in the region.
“We will pursue Hamas terrorists and those who sent them, wherever they are and at any time,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Meanwhile, far-right Finance Minister Bezalal Smotrich issued a directive ordering the destruction of a “large number” of illegal Palestinian structures in the region.
Hamas welcomed 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 injured in the attack,” Netanyahu’s main rival, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, said in a statement on X.
CNN’s Dana Karni and Kara Fox contributed reporting.
