Israel orders West Bank closure after soldiers kill two men near Hebron in alleged attack

Israeli soldiers killed two men near Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday morning after the military said they launched an attack against Israeli civilians. At least five people were injured, including some critically, according to emergency responders. The army claimed it prevented a "terror attack" and said the gunmen carried an M16 rifle and a handgun, though it did not specify the target or identify the victims.

Hours later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank, instructing security forces to cordon off Hebron and restrict movement across the territory. The decision came amid heightened tensions ahead of Israeli elections scheduled for Tuesday, three years after Hamas-led attacks on Israel triggered the Gaza war.

Netanyahu convened an emergency Security Cabinet meeting and blamed Hamas for planning "a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians," though he provided no evidence. He praised soldiers for "thwarting this attack with courage and determination" but did not clarify whether the wounded were civilians or security personnel.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right hardliner, argued the incident justified restricting Palestinian freedom of movement, stating that settlers' and soldiers' lives "are a million times more important than freedom of movement."

The military also reported conducting dozens of operations in the West Bank, apprehending individuals linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and seizing weapons including M16s and submachine guns. This marks the fourth such closure in the West Bank this month, with Israeli settlers still permitted to travel through the area with potential delays.

Source: NPR News.