Netanyahu orders Hebron demolition after checkpoint shootout kills two troops

The West Bank has been a flashpoint for months, with rising violence coinciding with the annual olive harvest and a tense national election cycle.

Israeli military crews entered Hebron on Thursday to demolish Palestinian structures after two soldiers were shot dead at a checkpoint outside the city. Officials confirmed that three other troops were wounded in the attack. Both Palestinian gunmen were killed in the ensuing gun battle. Video footage shows the attackers exiting a vehicle armed with a handgun and an assault rifle before opening fire on the soldiers.

The incident follows a pattern of high-tension clashes in the region. The United Nations reports that at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of 2026. Four Israelis, including security personnel and civilians, were killed by Palestinians during the same period. These figures do not include the two soldiers killed in the latest ambush. Extremist Jewish settlers have been targeting Palestinians during the olive harvest, adding to the local friction.

The military stated that it found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. Officials believe the gunmen intended to strike the nearby Route 35 but decided to attack the checkpoint instead after encountering it. The attack has intensified political maneuvering ahead of the election scheduled for four days. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has centered his campaign on security promises, spoke from the scene and declared that Israel is ready for extensive action in the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu said he reviewed plans for the largest military operation in the West Bank in decades, though he did not specify a timeline. He imposed cordons around Hebron, a city with approximately 200,000 residents, and the nearby city of Halhul. His Likud party canceled campaign events planned for Friday morning in response to the attack. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a campaign in the West Bank similar to those in Gaza and Lebanon. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged Israel to dismantle the Palestinian Authority.

Political tensions flared on Thursday as Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused opposition leaders of undermining the government by criticizing Netanyahu's pre-election warnings of an attack. Katz said the opposition would be responsible for any future incidents. Opposition figures, including frontrunner Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, offered condolences to the families of the dead soldiers. Israeli rights groups have previously criticized the demolition of homes linked to attacks as collective punishment.

The military continues the demolition work in the Hebron neighborhood from which the attackers are said to have come. The next scheduled step is the national vote, which takes place in four days. The cordons around Hebron and Halhul remain in effect as forces manage the site.