West Bank lockdown follows shooting at Hebron checkpoint

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a West Bank lockdown on Friday, after two Palestinian gunmen wounded five Israelis at a checkpoint near Hebron.

The move came days before Tuesday’s election, where Netanyahu faces a close race. He told the army and security forces to put a cordon around Hebron at once and to prepare for a full closure of the occupied territory.

His office said the order took effect that day.

What happened near Hebron

Gunfire broke out early in the morning at the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint, by the Judea Junction. Israeli forces killed both attackers after a prolonged shootout.

An eyewitness reporter saw two men, one with a handgun and one with an automatic rifle, firing at soldiers. Their bodies later lay next to a petrol station.

Magen David Adom, the emergency rescue service, reported that the five wounded people were all Israelis in their 20s. Two were in critical condition, one was moderate and two were mild.

The army said it found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers’ car. Chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir called the attack serious. Army sources estimated that the men wanted to reach Route 35 for a larger attack. When they saw the soldiers at the junction, they turned on them instead.

Palestinian reports named them as relatives, Mohammad Jaaba and Firas Jaaba, both 27 and from Hebron.

The army said it sealed off Hebron and a neighbouring area to stop copycat attacks and to arrest nearby Palestinians who may have connections. It launched offensive counterterrorism operations in the Hebron area, with troops raiding the suspects’ homes and others.

The military also plans to map the two men’s houses for sealing and later demolition, after legal proceedings. In addition, troops will check cars around Nablus and Jericho.

How Israeli leaders reacted

Netanyahu saluted the soldiers. In his view, they stopped what might have become a major attack. He promised extensive waves of arrests and said Israel would pursue Hamas wherever it is.

He also called on all Likud political meetings to cancel for the day. Hamas praised the attack in a statement on Friday and described it as a legitimate response to what it called crimes against Palestinians. It did not claim responsibility. Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s main rival, praised the troops and wished the injured a quick recovery.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who lives in the Kiryat Arba settlement beside Hebron, urged the dismantling and demilitarisation of the Palestinian Authority. He said Israel must act before it is too late. No evidence links the Palestinian Authority to the attack, according to the reports.

Why the West Bank lockdown matters

A full closure blocks entry and exit across the territory. A West Bank lockdown limits movement for Palestinians. It comes while settler and military violence has swept the territory during the olive harvest season.

Israel’s military and Shin Bet are checking whether the attackers acted as a small, self-contained cell or belonged to a larger group.

The vote could unseat Netanyahu’s ultranationalist coalition, which has governed for four years. The attack gives the prime minister a security message in the final days of the campaign.

Several settlements stand in Hebron, and Ben-Gvir lives in one of them.

For now, the West Bank lockdown stays in place, and residents wait to learn how long the restrictions will last.