Netanyahu Blames Hamas for Fatal Hebron Ambush as West Bank Closes

Two Israeli soldiers were killed on Friday when Palestinian gunmen opened fire near the Yehuda Junction outside Hebron. The Israeli army confirmed the deaths and stated that the two attackers also died during the engagement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by ordering the closure of the occupied West Bank.

The military described the incident as a thwarted terror attack against civilians. It identified the two suspects as Palestinians from Hebron armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. The men reached an Israeli military position in the morning, triggering a 20-minute exchange of fire. Three other soldiers sustained light wounds during the shootout.

Emergency responders reported five people injured, some critically. 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, said they arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still active in the area. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with his security cabinet and senior military officials. His office directed security forces to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to shut down the entire West Bank. The Prime Minister blamed Hamas, stating the group was planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians. He added that brave soldiers thwarted the attack with courage and determination, though he did not explain the specifics of the planned assault.

The army began precise searches in the part of Hebron where the gunmen operated. This operation is expected to last several days. Residents can only leave the area through three designated exit points after undergoing questioning and security screening. The military also started demolishing infrastructure it deemed a threat. Army chief of staff Eyal Zamir said a large quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the attackers, intended for a larger-scale attack.

Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. They arrested dozens of people, including individuals affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Security teams seized weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns. The army said the attackers had a large quantity of ammunition hidden in a vehicle.

The violence occurs as Israeli voters prepare to decide next Tuesday whether to grant Netanyahu another term. Ahead of the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack, Netanyahu suggested Hamas might strike to influence the election, though he provided no evidence. This is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement across the territory by shutting gates and checkpoints. Such closures link Palestinian villages to main roads.

Netanyahu stated the military would force Palestinians out of the Hebron neighborhood from which the attackers came. He compared this approach to Israel's assaults on two Palestinian refugee camps in 2025. Human Rights Watch has argued such expulsions amount to war crimes, a claim Israel rejects. U.S. congressional candidate Brad Lander, who was detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, called the closure an effort to make Palestinian life impossible. The West Bank has also seen a surge in settler violence during this year's olive harvest, which Amnesty International described as a season of horror for Palestinian families.