Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank after Israeli forces killed two Palestinian gunmen following a shooting near the city of Hebron, escalating tensions across the Palestinian territory.
Netanyahu announced the decision, after the Israeli military said that the two Palestinians had attacked a reserve battalion near the Israeli settlement of Telem. Israeli authorities described the incident as a thwarted “major attack” while the shooting prompted an emergency meeting of the government’s top security officials.
In a social media statement, Netanyahu said that he had directed security forces to close Hebron immediately and “prepare for a full lockdown across all of Judea and Samaria [the Israeli term for the West Bank] starting today.”
The order comes amid heightened tensions in the occupied territory, where Palestinians have faced increasing violence involving Israeli settlers and soldiers. Attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters have also been reported as tensions rise ahead of Israel’s elections scheduled for Tuesday.
Shooting Leaves Israeli Soldiers Injured
According to Israeli sources, the two Palestinians were travelling in a vehicle bearing an Israeli licence plate when they began shooting towards soldiers near one of the military checkpoints surrounding Hebron.
The Israeli military said its forces killed both men following the attack. Israel’s ambulance service reported that at least five Israeli soldiers were injured, with two in critical condition.
Netanyahu subsequently convened an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet and senior officials from military and security agencies to discuss the incident.
He blamed Hamas for allegedly planning the attack, claiming the Palestinian group had intended to carry out an assault targeting civilians. “Our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination,” Netanyahu said, without providing further details about the alleged plan.
He also commended the soldiers involved and wished those injured a speedy recovery, although he did not specify whether his reference to the wounded included soldiers or civilians.
The Israeli government has increasingly imposed movement restrictions across the West Bank amid security incidents and rising confrontations. Friday’s order marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has imposed territory-wide restrictions, according to the supplied report.
The measures involve closing gates and checkpoints linking Palestinian villages to major roads, limiting movement between communities.
However, Israeli roads in the occupied territory remain open to Israeli drivers, including settlers, although they may experience delays.
Ben-Gvir Calls For Greater Israeli Control Of West Bank
The shooting prompted far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to call for Israel to take full control of the West Bank and dismantle the Palestinian Authority.
Ben-Gvir argued that the attack demonstrated the need for more extensive restrictions on Palestinian movement and a stronger Israeli security presence across the territory, where the Israeli government has encouraged the construction of settlements.
“We have to act before it’s too late. The Palestinian Authority must be dismantled and demilitarised, and its terror infrastructure wiped out completely.”
Itamar Ben-Gvir
He also argued that the security of Israeli settlers, soldiers and police officers should take precedence over freedom of movement for Palestinians. “The lives of the residents of Judea and Samaria, of the settlers, the lives of the soldiers, the lives of the police officers, the lives of our fighters are a million times more important than freedom of movement,” Ben-Gvir said.
His remarks underscored calls within Israel’s far-right political establishment for more sweeping measures in the occupied territory following the shooting.
The attack also drew responses from Palestinian armed groups. Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) praised the shooting, describing it as a response to Israeli military operations, settler violence and Israel’s war in Gaza. The groups also called for intensified confrontations with Israeli soldiers and settlers.
Israeli Forces Conduct Operations In West Bank
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said its forces, working alongside security and intelligence agencies, had conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. The operations resulted in the arrest of dozens of people, including individuals it said were affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The military also reported locating weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine guns.
The latest lockdown adds to restrictions that have increasingly affected daily life for Palestinians across the occupied West Bank. By shutting checkpoints and gates connecting villages to major roads, the measures limit travel between communities and access to essential destinations.
With Israeli elections approaching, the shooting in Hebron and the government’s response have further heightened tensions across the territory.
Netanyahu’s order, alongside calls from Ben-Gvir for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority and expanded Israeli control, signals the prospect of tighter security measures in the days ahead.
The duration and precise scope of the planned full lockdown were not specified. However, the restrictions are expected to affect movement across the occupied West Bank as Israeli authorities respond to the shooting and assess further security measures.
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