Israel Orders West Bank Closure After Hebron Checkpoint Shooting

Two Palestinian gunmen were killed in a shootout with Israeli forces near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron on Friday after opening fire at a military checkpoint, wounding at least five Israelis and triggering a security lockdown that included the closure of Hebron and preparations for a wider shutdown of the West Bank.

The shooting occurred early Friday near the Yehuda Junction, also known as the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint, where Israeli troops were carrying out security checks on vehicles leaving Hebron. According to the Israeli military, soldiers returned fire during the confrontation and killed both attackers. Emergency responders said at least five people were injured, some critically, and were taken to hospitals in Israel.

The Israeli military said the men were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun and described the incident as an attempted attack against Israeli civilians. A preliminary military assessment, reported by The Times of Israel, suggested the gunmen may initially have intended to reach a nearby highway before changing course and attacking the checkpoint. That account has been attributed to the Israeli military and has not been independently established.

The confrontation reportedly lasted more than 20 minutes. Following the shooting, Israeli forces established additional roadblocks, restricted movement in Hebron and nearby Palestinian communities, and began security operations in the area. The military also said troops were operating at the homes of the two men as part of an investigation and amid plans to demolish the properties.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently ordered the immediate closure of Hebron and instructed security forces to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank, according to his office. The response came just days before Israel’s scheduled national election, adding a heightened security dimension to an already tense political period.

The attack comes amid continuing violence and restrictions in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli military operations, settler attacks and limits on Palestinian movement have fuelled tensions. Hebron, one of the largest Palestinian cities in the territory, has long been a flashpoint because of the presence of Israeli settlers in parts of the city and the extensive security measures imposed around them.

The immediate impact of the closures will be felt by residents travelling for work, education, medical treatment and other essential activities. Any wider shutdown would further constrain movement between Palestinian communities at a time when access through military checkpoints and roadblocks already shapes daily life across the West Bank. The full extent and duration of the restrictions were not immediately clear.