Israeli soldiers fatally shoot 2 Palestinians near Hebron. Netanyahu orders West Bank lockdown

The Associated Press

· Posted: Oct 23, 2026 7:01 AM EDT | Last Updated: 13 minutes ago

Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinians who the military said had launched an attack near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday morning. At least five people were injured, including some critically.

The deadly shooting is likely to further add to political tensions and mounting security concerns ahead of Israel's key parliamentary election next week.

The army said it prevented a "terror attack against Israeli civilians" and that the gunmen carried an M16 rifle and a handgun.

It said the two men were Palestinians from Hebron and that they were both killed. It did not elaborate on the target of their alleged attack. There was also no word on the identities of those injured.

A few hours later, Israel ordered the army to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it instructed security forces to immediately cordon off the city of Hebron and prepare to fully close all of the West Bank, starting Friday.

Following the shooting, Netanyahu held an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet and officials from top military and security agencies. He blamed Hamas, saying the militant group was "planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians."

"Our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination," he said, without elaborating on what the planned attack entailed.

An armed man is shown near a checkpoint in Hebron on Friday. Subsequent photographs by AFP show the man flat on his back on the ground. (Hazem Bader/AFP/Getty Images)

The incident comes as Israeli voters will decide next Tuesday whether to grant Netanyahu yet another term as prime minister. Israel's government has warned of potential attacks by the country's "enemies" in the lead-up to the election.

"I commend them for their actions and wish our wounded a speedy recovery," he added but did not say if the wounded were soldiers or civilians.

Ahead of the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that triggered the war, Netanyahu said the Palestinian militant group could attack Israel in a bid to influence the outcome of the elections. He did not provide evidence to back up the claim.

Emergency responders said five people were injured, some critically, and were being taken to hospitals in Israel. A statement from the responders said gunfire was still ongoing as they arrived at the scene of the attack near the Yehuda Junction in the morning.

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Two men in their 20s had gunshot wounds to their lower limbs, and one was unconscious and seriously injured, the responders said.

"We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area," said Tzuriel Edri with the response team.

An investigation was underway, authorities said.

Also Friday, the army said soldiers and Israeli security and intelligence agencies conducted dozens of operations in the West Bank and apprehended dozens of people, including those affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups. It also said it had located weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine guns.

Eyal Zamir, the Israeli army's chief of staff, said a "large quantity of ammunition was found" in a vehicle used by the gunmen.

"This ammunition was intended to be used in a larger-scale attack," he added.

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Closures of the West Bank, such as the one ordered Friday, are growing more common in the territory. It's the fourth time in the past month that Israel has imposed restrictions across the area, shutting gates and checkpoints connecting Palestinian villages to major roads.

Meanwhile, Israeli roads in the territory remain open to Israeli drivers, including settlers, who can still travel through the area but may face delays.

U.S. congressional candidate Brad Lander, who was in the West Bank on Friday, said the Israeli army's closure following the attack was an example of Israel enforcing an apartheid system on Palestinians.

"It's part of the effort to take more control, to make Palestinian life impossible," Lander, who was detained by Israeli forces Wednesday, said in an interview.

Yishai Fleisher, an international spokesperson for Hebron's Jewish community and a political candidate for the far-right Otzma Yehudit, or Jewish Power, party, said Israel had the right to defend itself from a "hostile majority."

"We are tired of the weapons and the brainwashing and incitement that is next door," he said.