Netanyahu orders Hebron cordon and full West Bank lockdown after checkpoint shooting

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered the Israeli military to impose an immediate cordon on the West Bank city of Hebron and prepare for a full lockdown of the entire territory, hours after a checkpoint shooting near the city wounded five Israelis.

“I have instructed the IDF and security forces to impose an immediate cordon on the city of Hebron and to prepare for a full lockdown of all of Judea and Samaria starting today,” Netanyahu said, using the biblical name for the occupied West Bank (SCMP). He also cancelled Friday political campaign events, four days before Tuesday’s election.

Magen David Adom said five people were wounded in the shooting at the Judea Junction — also known as the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint — on Route 35 near Hebron: two critical, one moderate and two mild. The Israel Defense Forces said soldiers killed two suspected Palestinian gunmen, with searches ongoing (The Jerusalem Post). An AFP journalist witnessed the firefight (Arab News).

“I salute the courage of our soldiers who acted with determination and prevented what could have been a major attack,” Netanyahu said, noting a large quantity of ammunition had been found in the attackers’ vehicle (L’Orient Today). He said the IDF would carry out “extensive waves of arrests”, with a manhunt ongoing.

Rival Gadi Eisenkot praised the troops and prayed for the injured, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the Palestinian Authority to be “dismantled and demilitarised”. No evidence suggests the PA was connected to the attack (SCMP).