Five Israelis wounded in West Bank checkpoint shooting; two suspected attackers killed
Israeli officials say gunmen opened fire on soldiers at a checkpoint at the entrance to Hebron, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order preparations for a full West Bank lockdown.
At a glance
- Five Israelis were wounded, two critically, and two suspected Palestinian attackers were killed at a Hebron checkpoint, officials said.
- PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to prepare a full lockdown of the West Bank, starting later on Friday.
- The UN says at least 96 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the year.
Five Israelis have been wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers killed in a shooting at a military checkpoint at the entrance to Hebron in the occupied West Bank, Israeli officials said on Friday. Israel's ambulance service said two of the wounded were in critical condition.
Footage verified by the BBC showed an intense gun battle between soldiers and the gunmen at the checkpoint. Unverified CCTV footage showed two gunmen leaving a car armed with what appeared to be a handgun and an assault rifle and firing at soldiers, before coming under return fire.
Lockdown ordered
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank beginning later on Friday. The West Bank had already been expected to be placed under lockdown for Monday and Tuesday's general election, according to Israeli media.
Netanyahu, who has campaigned on promises of security for Israelis, said his Likud party would cancel campaign events for the morning.
The Israeli military said a large quantity of ammunition was found in the attackers' vehicle, and that it believed the gunmen had intended to carry out a much larger attack on the nearby Route 35 but ran into the checkpoint and opened fire there instead. The military said it had begun raids on the attackers' homes.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he had ordered the demolition of several Palestinian buildings next to the site of the shooting. Demolishing the homes of Palestinians suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis is common practice for Israeli forces.
Rising tensions
The shooting came during a period of high tensions, with extremist Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians during the annual olive harvest, and the election four days away.
According to the UN, at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the year. Over the same period, the UN says four Israelis, both security forces and civilians, have been killed by Palestinians there.
Source: BBC World.
Questions and answers
- What happened at the Hebron checkpoint?
- Israeli officials said five Israelis were wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers were killed after gunmen opened fire on soldiers at a military checkpoint at the entrance to Hebron. Two of the wounded are in critical condition.
- Why has Israel ordered a West Bank lockdown?
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the military to prepare a full lockdown of the West Bank beginning later on Friday, after the shooting. Israeli media said a lockdown had already been expected for the election on Monday and Tuesday.
- How many people have been killed in the West Bank this year?
- The UN says at least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the year, while four Israelis have been killed by Palestinians over the same period.
