Israeli Forces Kill Two After West Bank Shooting Attack
Israeli soldiers killed two gunmen after a shooting attack near Hebron wounded five people, prompting the government to prepare for a full West Bank closure.
The Israel Defense Forces shot and killed two men on Friday morning following a shooting attack near the Yehuda Junction near Hebron in the occupied West Bank. The military reported that the gunmen were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun and were attempting to target Israeli civilians. The initial attack wounded at least five people, two of whom were in critical condition.
In response to the violence, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed security forces to cordon off Hebron and prepare for a full closure of the West Bank. The incident occurs days before Israeli elections scheduled for next Tuesday. Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously warned that Palestinian militants might attempt attacks to influence the election outcome, though he provided no evidence for the claim.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir argued that the attack justifies restricting Palestinian freedom of movement. The military continued searches in the area following the elimination of the two suspects.
