West Bank sealed off again days before election

Israeli voters head to the polls on Tuesday to decide the next government, but the occupied West Bank is already shut down. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full closure of the territory on Friday morning after soldiers killed two men near Hebron. The move seals all gates and checkpoints, cutting off Palestinian villages from major roads for the fourth time in one month.

The military said its troops stopped a terror attack against Israeli civilians. Soldiers found the two gunmen armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. The army did not specify the intended target of the attack. At least five people were wounded in the incident, with some injuries described as critical. Authorities have not released the names of the dead or the injured.

Emergency responders reached the scene near the Yehuda Junction while gunfire was still active. Tzuriel Edri of the response team described a difficult scene, noting that shooting continued upon their arrival. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their lower limbs. A third victim was found unconscious and seriously hurt. Five people total were transported to hospitals in Israel. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet and the heads of military and security agencies hours after the shooting. He blamed Hamas for the incident, claiming the group was planning a major attack to kill innocent civilians. He said the troops thwarted the plot with courage and determination. The prime minister offered no specific details about the planned operation. He also wished the wounded a speedy recovery without clarifying whether they were soldiers or civilians.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the event to argue for stricter limits on Palestinian movement. He stated that the lives of residents, settlers, and soldiers are far more important than freedom of movement. He used the Israeli term Judea and Samaria to refer to the territory. The minister is a far-right figure known for advocating for settlement expansion and limited Palestinian rights.

On Friday, Israeli soldiers and intelligence services carried out dozens of operations across the West Bank. They detained dozens of people, including individuals linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Troops reported seizing weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine guns. Israeli roads in the West Bank remain open to Israeli drivers, though settlers may face delays.

This is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has imposed restrictions across the territory. The government has warned that enemies may try to strike before the election. The vote takes place three years after the Hamas-led attacks that started the war in Gaza.