After Deadly Hebron Shooting, Israel Orders Army to Prepare Full Closure of West Bank
Orders follow deadly shooting
The prime minister’s office said security forces were told to cordon off Hebron immediately and prepare to close the West Bank from Friday. The order came hours after Israeli soldiers killed two men near the city.
The military said the men had carried an M16 rifle and a handgun, and described the incident as an attempted attack on Israeli civilians. It did not identify an intended target or release the identities of the dead or injured.
Five people reported injured
Emergency responders said five people were hurt, with some in critical condition, and were being taken to hospitals in Israel. They reported that shooting was still underway when they arrived near Yehuda Junction.
Responders said two men in their 20s had wounds to their lower limbs. One was unconscious and seriously hurt, according to their account.
Election backdrop and reaction
The shooting occurred ahead of next Tuesday’s vote, when Israelis will decide whether Benjamin Netanyahu remains prime minister. The election comes three years after Hamas-led attacks on Israel triggered the Gaza war.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir argued that Palestinians’ freedom of movement in the West Bank should be restricted. He said residents, settlers, soldiers, police officers and fighters’ lives mattered more than that freedom.
Key points
- Israel ordered preparations for a West Bank closure and an immediate cordon around Hebron.
- Israeli soldiers killed two men near Hebron; the military said they had launched an attack.
- Emergency responders reported five injured people, including some in critical condition.
- The shooting occurred days before Israelis vote on whether Netanyahu will remain prime minister.