Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the closure of the occupied West Bank after two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at an Israeli military checkpoint on Friday, injuring at least five people.
Two of the injured were in critical condition, according to Israel’s emergency medical service, Magen David Adom.
Following the attack, the Israeli military imposed a “complete encirclement” of the city of Hebron. Netanyahu said he had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank, beginning on Friday. However, it remained unclear when the measure would officially take effect and how long it would remain in place.
Both gunmen were shot dead, the IDF said in a statement. Israeli forces continued searches across the area to locate anyone else who might have been involved in the attack.
It was not immediately clear whether any of the injured were soldiers or civilians.
Videos from the scene showed an exchange of gunfire between the Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces, lasting several minutes, with repeated bursts of gunfire heard in the area.
In one video obtained by Reuters, an Israeli emergency responder could be heard shouting that the shooting had continued for at least 20 minutes. He also described difficulties evacuating the wounded from the scene.
The attack came just four days before Israel’s elections, the first since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023. The vote represents a significant test for Netanyahu, who has sought to portray himself as a decisive leader on security issues.
The IDF said it had discovered a vehicle used by the gunmen to carry out the attack. A “large quantity” of ammunition was found inside.
“This was a serious terrorist attack,” IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said following a security assessment.
“The rapid action of the fighters prevented an even more serious attack and further harm to civilians and security forces,” he said.
Zamir added that the ammunition found in the vehicle had allegedly been intended for an attack on a much larger scale.
