Netanyahu blames Hamas for Hebron ambush that kills two soldiers and closes West Bank

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of the entire West Bank on Friday following a shootout that killed two Israeli soldiers. The emergency directive came hours after Palestinian gunmen engaged troops near the Yehuda Junction outside Hebron. The attack marked the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement across the territory by shutting gates and checkpoints.

The Israeli army stated that two men from Hebron reached an Israeli military position in the morning. Armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun, the suspects initiated an exchange of fire that lasted approximately 20 minutes. Troops killed both gunmen during the engagement. The military announced that it had foiled a planned terror attack against Israeli civilians. Three other soldiers sustained light injuries during the firefight.

Emergency responders treated five individuals for injuries sustained during the incident. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their lower limbs. One person was unconscious and seriously hurt. Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, described arriving at a difficult scene while shooting was still active in the area. All injured parties were transported to hospitals in Israel. Authorities confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway.

Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with senior military and security officials to address the escalation. His office instructed security forces to cordon off Hebron immediately. The prime minister blamed Hamas for the incident, stating that the group was planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians. He did not provide specific details about the planned operation. Netanyahu added that his soldiers thwarted the attack with courage and determination.

Later on Friday, the army began precise and targeted searches in the specific area of Hebron where the gunmen operated. The operation is expected to continue for several days. Residents will be permitted to leave the zone only through three designated exit points. These exits require questioning and security screening. The military also started demolishing infrastructure it identified as a threat. Army chief of staff Eyal Zamir reported that a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers. He said the ammunition was intended for a larger-scale attack.

Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. Dozens of people were arrested during these sweeps. Some detainees were affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Security forces seized weapons including M16 rifles and submachine guns. These actions expanded the immediate response to the Hebron firefight into a wider regional security push.

The violence occurs just days before Israeli voters go to the polls. Elections are scheduled for next Tuesday to determine if Netanyahu will receive another term. Ahead of the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack, the prime minister suggested Hamas might try to strike Israel to influence the vote. He offered no evidence for this claim. Netanyahu stated that the military would force Palestinians out of the Hebron neighborhood where the attackers originated. He compared this approach to Israel's assaults on two Palestinian refugee camps in 2025.

Human Rights Watch has stated that such expulsions amount to war crimes, a characterization that Israel rejects. U.S. congressional candidate Brad Lander was in the West Bank on Friday. He was detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday. Lander called the closure part of an effort to take more control and make Palestinian life impossible. The West Bank has also experienced a surge in settler violence during this year's olive harvest. Amnesty International described the harvest period as a season of horror for Palestinian families.