Netanyahu orders West Bank lockdown after deadly checkpoint shooting near Hebron

Five Israelis were wounded in a shooting near Hebron on Friday before two gunmen were killed in a prolonged exchange of fire with Israeli forces, according to the information provided by the military and emergency services. The attack took place at a checkpoint near the Palestinian city, in an area identified by the military as Judea Junction, also known as the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by ordering an immediate cordon around Hebron and a wider closure of the West Bank.

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The military said soldiers rushed to the area after the early-morning attack and later killed the two assailants. In a statement, it said troops had "eliminated two terrorists and continue searches in the area." A journalist who witnessed the firefight reported seeing two Palestinian men in casual clothing, one carrying a handgun and the other an automatic rifle, exchange fire with Israeli forces. Netanyahu said the attackers were carrying a large quantity of ammunition in their vehicle and that troops had prevented what could have been a major attack.

Magen David Adom said two of the five wounded were in critical condition. The emergency service did not provide further details on the identities of the injured. Netanyahu also called for all political meetings to be cancelled on the day of the attack, linking the security response directly to the election campaign.

He said he had instructed the Israel Defense Forces and security forces to prepare for a full lockdown of "Judea and Samaria," the term he used for the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The incident comes days before Israel's election, adding a security dimension to an already tense political period. Netanyahu is seeking a new term in Tuesday's vote, and the attack immediately became part of the campaign atmosphere.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right figure rising in the polls, called for the Palestinian Authority to be dismantled and demilitarised, although no evidence was presented linking the authority to the attack. Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's main rival in the election and a former army chief, praised the troops' response. The area around Hebron has long been a flashpoint in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where checkpoints and military patrols are part of daily security operations.

The latest shooting is likely to intensify restrictions on movement in and around the city, at least in the short term, while searches continue. It also highlights how quickly local violence can affect national politics in the run-up to an election. The immediate focus is now on the condition of the wounded, the scope of the closure, and whether further arrests or searches follow.

What remains unclear is whether the attackers acted alone or as part of a wider network, and whether the closure will be limited to Hebron or extended more broadly across the West Bank. Officials have not said how long the restrictions will remain in place. The military said searches were continuing, and further details may emerge as the security operation develops.

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