Israel Announces Broad West Bank Crackdown After Attack Kills Two Soldiers
Israel has ordered a full lockdown across the occupied West Bank after an attack near Hebron killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others. Two Palestinian men accused of carrying out the shooting were also killed.
The two suspected attackers were from Hebron. Israeli authorities said they had an M16-style rifle and a handgun. Emergency workers treated at least five people after the attack, including two who were in critical condition. The three wounded soldiers were taken to a hospital with light injuries.
Military Operation Begins Near Hebron
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to surround Hebron and the nearby city of Halhul. He said the government could use the same approach in other West Bank cities.
Israeli soldiers began searching homes in areas linked to the suspected attackers. Residents may be removed from some buildings while troops search for weapons and people believed to be connected to armed groups.
Israeli forces also began tearing down buildings described as illegal or dangerous. Images from Hebron showed bulldozers destroying at least one Palestinian building.
Netanyahu said Israel was ready for a large military operation across the West Bank, which some Israelis call Judea and Samaria. He also said new settlement-related construction would be built in areas where structures connected to attacks were destroyed.
The military and domestic security forces described the operation as focused on the Hebron area. They said troops were carrying out detailed searches, questioning suspects and trying to find weapons and other parts of what they called terrorist networks.
Residents Face Restrictions
The operation is expected to continue for several days. Residents in the affected area may leave through three designated checkpoints after being questioned. Some people may be taken for additional questioning.
Security forces said the restrictions were limited to the areas connected to the attack. However, the government also instructed the military to prepare for a wider lockdown covering the entire West Bank.
The move could make travel difficult for Palestinians who need to reach work, school, hospitals or family members in other cities. Details about how long the broader closure would last were not provided.
Government Blames Hamas
After an emergency meeting with senior security officials, Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the shooting. He said the group was preparing a major attack against civilians and pointed to large amounts of weapons and ammunition that Israeli forces had found.
He did not provide further details about those weapons or explain whether any civilians were among the injured.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Hebron could face an operation similar to Israeli campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon and the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank. He said neighborhoods connected to the attack would be cleared of residents and that armed networks would be dismantled.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the Palestinian Authority to be dismantled. The authority has governed parts of the West Bank for many years.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also called for a broad military campaign. He said Israeli forces should collect weapons, kill suspected attackers and end the Palestinian Authority’s control in the territory.
Political Pressure Before Election
The lockdown was announced only days before an important Israeli election that could determine whether Netanyahu remains in power. Security has been a central part of his campaign.
Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that Israel’s enemies may try to attack civilians and soldiers before voters go to the polls. After the shooting, he said the attack was an example of the danger he had warned about.
The timing has placed additional political pressure on the government. Opposition groups may question the use of a large security operation so close to the election, while Netanyahu’s supporters are likely to point to the attack as a reason for stronger military action.
Violence Rises During Olive Harvest
The West Bank has faced growing violence between Palestinians, Israeli settlers and Israeli security forces. Tensions have increased during the olive harvest, when Palestinian farmers travel to their fields to collect crops.
Palestinian farmers, activists and American citizens helping with the harvest have been attacked or detained in recent weeks. Some Palestinian families have also said their olives were stolen or that they were prevented from reaching their land.
At least 160 attacks connected to the harvest were recorded during the first two weeks of the season. The incidents included injuries and property damage. Many were carried out with the presence or involvement of Israeli security forces.
Netanyahu has defended Israeli settlers in the West Bank, calling them heroic. In the past, he has described some violent settlers as a small group of young offenders. His government has also supported the growth of Israeli settlements in the territory, a policy that has drawn strong international criticism.
Casualties Continue to Mount
Violence in the West Bank has caused heavy losses on both sides. Since the start of the year, at least 322 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, including 74 children. More than 5,900 Palestinians have been injured.
More than 3,400 attacks by Israeli settlers have caused injuries or property damage during the same period.
At least 20 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians in the West Bank, including one child and eight members of Israeli security forces. More than 120 Israelis have been injured.
The latest attack near Hebron, followed by the announced lockdown and military searches, is expected to increase tensions across the territory and further limit daily life for residents.