Israel wants to seal off West Bank after attack in Hebron

Gunshots echoed on Friday morning at the northern entrance to the West Bank city of Hebron. Videos from the Reuters news agency show soldiers running away at a mobile checkpoint. A soldier shouts:

According to the Israeli military, two suspected Palestinian attackers opened fire. The soldiers shot both men. In the afternoon it was confirmed: two Israeli soldiers were killed in the attack and three others were injured.

Netanyahu blames Hamas

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the attackers were planning a major attack on civilians. Numerous weapons and ammunition were found at the crime scene. He also blamed the terrorist organization Hamas for the attack. In a written statement, Hamas praised the attack but did not claim direct responsibility.

Haim Goldich from the Israeli broadcaster KANN reports on the course of the attack.

Large-scale military operation announced

After the attack, the access roads to Hebron were closed. Netanyahu ordered the city to be sealed off. The army is also said to be preparing for a complete closure of the West Bank. In addition, soldiers should go into the houses in neighborhoods where the attackers live and confiscate weapons.

He again announced a large-scale military operation in the West Bank. The right-wing extremist security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the visit to the attack site to blame the Palestinian Authority for the attack. However, there is no evidence of the authority's involvement. Ben-Gvir calls for their dissolution:

Ben-Gvir also said that the lives of Israeli settlers, soldiers and police officers are a million times more important than freedom of movement.

“The whole city is in lockdown”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also announced the demolition of a building opposite the site of the attack. The closure means significant restrictions for the Palestinian population. Roads and access roads are closed, and some people are unable to get to work or get medical care. A resident from Hebron describes how the situation feels for his family.

The lockdown comes just days before Israel's October 27 parliamentary election. Restrictions on freedom of movement around elections are not uncommon. However, the closure that has now been ordered follows the attack near Hebron.