Israeli Military Imposes Siege On Hebron After Shooting Attack Leaves Five Wounded

Israeli Military Imposes Siege on Hebron After Shooting Attack Leaves Five Wounded The Israeli military has imposed a security cordon on the occupied West Bank city of Hebron after two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a military checkpoint on Friday, October 23, injuring five people. The attack prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order an immediate closure of Hebron and preparations for a wider lockdown across the occupied West Bank. According to Israeli emergency services, five people were wounded in the shooting, including two who were reported to be in critical condition. The Israeli military said its troops shot and killed both attackers following an exchange of gunfire that lasted more than 20 minutes. Security forces subsequently launched searches in the surrounding area to determine whether other people were involved. The military said a vehicle used by the gunmen contained a large quantity of ammunition, which it believed could have been intended for a larger-scale attack. Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described the incident as a serious attack, saying the response by troops had prevented further harm to civilians and security personnel. Netanyahu said he had instructed the military and security agencies to impose an immediate cordon around Hebron and prepare for a full closure of the West Bank. The proposed restrictions raised concerns about further disruption to Palestinian movement, as checkpoints and road barriers already limit travel between communities across the territory. The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the occupied West Bank, where violence involving Israeli settlers, Palestinians and security forces has continued, particularly during the annual olive harvest. Hamas praised the shooting in a statement but did not claim responsibility for carrying it out. The incident also occurred days before Israel’s parliamentary elections, adding to security concerns as political leaders responded to the attack. Israeli authorities said investigations and security operations were continuing following the shooting.