20-Minute Hebron Firefight Kills Two Troops

A twenty-minute exchange of fire near Hebron killed two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinian gunmen on Friday. The violence prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order the closure of the entire West Bank, a move that restricts movement across the territory's main gates and checkpoints.

The Israeli army stated that the shooting began in the morning when two armed men reached a military position near the Yehuda Junction. The attackers, identified as Palestinians from Hebron, carried an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. Three other soldiers sustained light injuries. Emergency responders reported five people injured, including two men in their 20s with lower limb gunshot wounds and one unconscious individual.

Tzuriel Edri, a member of the response team, described the scene to authorities. He said responders arrived while active shooting was still occurring in the area. An investigation into the incident is currently underway. The military announced that it had foiled an attack targeted at Israeli civilians.

Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of his security cabinet with senior military officials. His office directed forces to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to shut down the wider territory. The prime minister attributed the attack to Hamas, claiming the group was planning a major offensive to kill civilians. He said his soldiers thwarted the plot with courage and determination, though he provided no specific details on the planned operation.

Army chief of staff Eyal Zamir reported that troops found a large quantity of ammunition in a vehicle used by the attackers. He stated the weapons were intended for a larger-scale attack. The military launched precise searches in the specific part of Hebron where the gunmen operated. This operation is expected to continue for several days. Residents in the area may only leave through three designated exit points after security screening.

The army also began demolishing infrastructure it described as a threat. On Friday, Israeli forces and security agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank. They arrested dozens of people, including members affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and seized weapons such as M16 rifles and submachine guns. The military stated that these actions aim to secure the region.

The closure comes one week before Israeli voters decide on Netanyahu's next term. The prime minister suggested Hamas might strike to influence the election, though he cited no evidence. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement in the West Bank. Netanyahu said the military would force Palestinians out of the neighborhood where the attackers were based.

Human Rights Watch has described such expulsions as war crimes, a claim Israel rejects. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate who was detained by Israeli forces on Wednesday, called the closure an effort to make Palestinian life impossible. Amnesty International noted that settler violence has increased during this year's olive harvest, a period it called a season of horror for local families.