In brief
A sudden shooting at a military checkpoint on the edge of Hebron left five Israeli soldiers wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers dead. The clash erupted as the gunmen, believed to be armed with a large supply of ammunition, rushed into the checkpoint while planning a larger strike on Route 35. Israeli forces claim the attackers intended a broader assault but opened fire when the vehicle entered the checkpoint. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a full lockdown of the West Bank amid heightened security concerns ahead of the upcoming general election.
Five Israeli soldiers sustained injuries after a sudden shooting at a military checkpoint near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. Unverified footage circulating on social media shows a fierce exchange of gunfire between Israeli troops and the assailants. Military sources say the attackers were carrying a large cache of ammunition in their vehicle and were allegedly preparing a major attack on nearby Route 35; the confrontation broke out when the vehicle entered the checkpoint.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the West Bank, with extremist Jewish settlers reportedly targeting Palestinians during the annual olive harvest. The broader political context is the general election, set for this Friday, which has heightened security concerns and a prospective lockdown of the West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank later that Friday. He added that his Likud party would cancel campaign events for the morning in order to maintain stability in the region.
The two suspected attackers have been identified as Palestinians, and the Israeli military has confirmed that they were killed during the firefight. An investigation is ongoing into the motives behind the attack and the identities of those responsible.
