Israel Seals West Bank Gates Days Before Election

Israeli military forces sealed all exits from the West Bank on Friday morning. The immediate shutdown followed a firefight near Hebron in which two men were killed and five others were wounded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the cordon hours after the initial incident. This is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has imposed such strict restrictions on the territory.

The army stated that its troops stopped a terror attack against Israeli civilians. The two gunmen were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. The military did not specify the intended target of the attack. Emergency responders reported that gunfire was still active when they arrived at the scene near Yehuda Junction. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their legs. A third victim was unconscious and seriously hurt. Tzuriel Edri of the response team described the scene as difficult due to ongoing shooting.

Netanyahu convened an emergency Security Cabinet meeting immediately after the news broke. He claimed Hamas was planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians. The prime minister praised the troops for thwarting the attack with courage and determination. He did not provide specific details on the plot or confirm whether the wounded were soldiers or civilians. Israel’s government has cautioned that enemies may try to strike in the days leading up to Tuesday’s general election.

The vote on Tuesday will determine whether Netanyahu stays in power for another term. The election occurs three years after the Hamas-led attacks that started the war in Gaza. Netanyahu had warned earlier that Hamas might try to hit Israel to sway the result. He offered no evidence to support that claim. The timing of the closure places a direct halt to trade and movement between the West Bank and Israel just days before the polls open.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir argued that the incident proved the need to limit Palestinian freedom of movement. He stated that the lives of residents, settlers, soldiers, and police are a million times more important than freedom of movement. Ben-Gvir used the Israeli term Judea and Samaria to refer to the territory. His remarks align with his far-right political stance on settlement expansion and security control.

Security forces carried out dozens of operations across the West Bank on Friday. They detained dozens of people, including individuals linked to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Troops also found M16 rifles and submachine guns during the raids. Israeli roads in the West Bank remain open to Israeli drivers and settlers, though they may face delays. The closure shuts gates and checkpoints that link Palestinian villages to major roads.

An investigation into the shooting is ongoing. The identities of the dead and the injured have not been made public. Five people were transported to hospitals in Israel. The military continues to coordinate with intelligence services to assess the security situation. The full scope of the planned attack remains under review by officials.