West Bank Sealed After 20-Minute Hebron Firefight Kills Two Troops

The Israeli military reported that two soldiers lost their lives on Friday in a gunbattle with Palestinian gunmen near the Yehuda Junction, outside Hebron. The engagement lasted approximately 20 minutes and resulted in the death of both attackers. Three additional soldiers sustained minor injuries during the exchange.

Emergency services treated five individuals for wounds, with some described as critical. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their lower limbs, while one person was found unconscious and seriously injured. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, stated that crews arrived at a difficult scene while active shooting continued in the area. Authorities confirmed that an investigation into the incident is currently underway.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security cabinet meeting with senior military officials. His office directed security forces to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to close the entire West Bank beginning Friday. Netanyahu attributed the attack to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major offensive aimed at killing civilians, though he provided no specific details on the planned operation. He described the soldiers' actions as courageous and determined in thwarting the assault.

Later on Friday, the army announced the start of precise searches in the specific sector of Hebron where the gunmen operated. The military expects this operation to continue for several days. Residents of the affected area are permitted to leave only through three designated exit points after undergoing questioning and security screening. The army also began demolishing infrastructure it deemed a threat. Eyal Zamir, the chief of staff, noted that a large quantity of ammunition intended for a larger-scale attack was found in a vehicle used by the attackers.

Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday, leading to the arrest of dozens of individuals. Among those detained were affiliates of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and troops seized weapons including M16 rifles and submachine guns. Netanyahu stated that the military would force Palestinians out of the neighborhood from which the attackers emerged, a method similar to previous Israeli assaults on refugee camps in 2025.

The violence occurs ahead of Israeli elections scheduled for next Tuesday. Netanyahu suggested that Hamas might attempt to strike Israel to influence the vote, a claim he offered without supporting evidence. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement across the West Bank by shutting gates and checkpoints. Human Rights Watch has previously described such expulsions as war crimes, a characterization Israel rejects. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, characterized the closure as an effort to make Palestinian life impossible.