Netanyahu Closes West Bank After Israel Thwarts Suspected Major Attack

Five people were wounded in a shooting at an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron in the West Bank, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order a regionwide lockdown. Israeli authorities described the incident as a potentially much larger attack that was stopped before it could unfold.

The Israel Defense Forces said two Palestinian gunmen were killed by Israeli forces following the shooting. Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service reported that five people were injured, with two suffering critical wounds.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, speaking from the scene, said troops found substantial quantities of weapons and ammunition inside the attackers’ vehicle. The discovery, he said, suggested the gunmen could have been preparing to carry out a broader assault.

Netanyahu directed authorities to seal off the entire West Bank, according to an official statement. The IDF said it had also begun a counterterrorism operation in Hebron and nearby villages as security forces searched the area.

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Hamas did not claim responsibility for the shooting, but it welcomed the violence and urged its supporters to carry out additional attacks targeting Israeli soldiers and settlers.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.