Netanyahu Orders Full West Bank Closure Days Before Election

With Israeli voters heading to the polls on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the complete sealing of the West Bank on Friday. This closure marks the fourth time in the past 30 days that security forces have shut down the territory's gates and checkpoints.

The decision followed a violent incident on Friday morning near Hebron. Israeli soldiers shot and killed two men who the military said were launching an attack against civilians. The army stated the gunmen carried an M16 rifle and a handgun. Emergency responders reported at least five people were wounded, some critically, though authorities have not released the identities of the dead or injured.

Tzuriel Edri, a member of the emergency response team, described the chaotic arrival at the scene near Yehuda Junction. "We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area," Edri said. Responders transported five individuals to hospitals in Israel. Two men in their 20s sustained gunshot wounds to their lower limbs, while a third victim was unconscious and seriously injured.

Hours after the shooting, Netanyahu convened an emergency session of the Security Cabinet alongside top military and security leaders. The prime minister attributed the incident to Hamas, claiming the group was "planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians." He commended the troops for "thwarting this attack with courage and determination" but did not specify the intended target of the plot.

This closure comes on the eve of a general election that will determine whether Netanyahu remains in power or if Israel moves to a new political era. The vote occurs three years after the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza. The government has warned that adversaries may attempt to strike before the election to influence the outcome.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the incident to argue for stricter limits on Palestinian movement. He stated that the lives of settlers, soldiers, and police in Judea and Samaria are "a million times more important than freedom of movement." He used the Israeli term for the territory while outlining the security rationale for the shutdown.

On Friday, Israeli soldiers working with intelligence services conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank. They detained dozens of individuals, including those linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Troops also recovered weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine guns. An official investigation into the shootout remains ongoing.

Under the current restrictions, Israeli roads within the West Bank remain open to Israeli drivers and settlers, though delays are expected. This recurring pattern of closures has disrupted trade and daily life in the territory. The fourth shutdown in a month underscores the heightened security posture as the election approaches.