Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the closure of Hebron and directed security forces to prepare for a wider lockdown across the occupied West Bank after a shooting near the city left two Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers dead.
The violence erupted early on Friday, October 23, near a military checkpoint at the northern entrance to Hebron. Israeli authorities said the two Palestinians were suspected of carrying out the shooting, which also wounded Israeli security personnel.
The Israeli military initially reported that six soldiers had been injured. It later confirmed that two soldiers from its search-and-rescue unit had been killed and three others lightly wounded.
Netanyahu announced the restrictions after a security assessment with senior military and intelligence officials. He also cancelled his Likud party's scheduled campaign events and travelled to the scene.
“Our forces are operating with increased intensity to thwart terrorism and are carrying out extensive waves of arrests,” Netanyahu said in a statement. He added that Israel would pursue Hamas operatives and those supporting them.
Israeli Forces Raid Homes as Restrictions Spread
The shooting prompted a wider security operation across Hebron and neighbouring communities.
Israeli forces closed roads and restricted access to the city, while soldiers carried out searches and raids on residential properties. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that three Palestinians were arrested during raids on homes in Hebron.
The restrictions also affected Ramallah, where entrances and exits were being closed, according to Al Jazeera's correspondent Nida Ibrahim.
Residents faced difficulties moving between communities as soldiers manned checkpoints and blocked roads.
The Israeli military said the operation was intended to prevent further attacks. The full scope and duration of the proposed West Bank lockdown remained unclear.
Netanyahu Signals Possible Large-Scale Operation
Speaking during his visit to Hebron, Netanyahu said the military was prepared to expand its operations into Palestinian neighbourhoods.
“The IDF will enter the neighbourhoods from which the attackers came, evacuate the residents, go house to house,” he said, adding that the military would target what he described as terrorist infrastructure.
“We are prepared for a large-scale operation in the West Bank,” he said.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also called for a broader military campaign. He said he had ordered the demolition of Palestinian buildings near the shooting site, claiming that some had been built illegally.
The proposed demolitions raised further concerns about the impact of the security response on Palestinian residents, particularly those living near military checkpoints and access roads.
There was no immediate indication that the Palestinian Authority had been involved in the shooting.
Palestinian Leaders Warn of Collective Punishment
Palestinian political figures criticised the restrictions, arguing that they would deepen the hardship facing residents across the occupied territory.
Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian politician, said the closures would further restrict movement, disrupt economic activity and make it harder for people to reach healthcare and education services.
He warned that prolonged restrictions could increase tensions rather than resolve them.
Yariv Oppenheimer, a former director of the Israeli organisation Peace Now, also cautioned that the government could use the attack to justify tougher measures against Palestinians.
He predicted that the response could include home demolitions, curfews and further arrests.
These assessments reflect concerns among critics of Israel's policies in the West Bank. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have defended the security measures as necessary to prevent further attacks.
Security Crisis Comes Ahead of Israeli Election
The shooting comes just days before Israel's October 27 parliamentary election, adding to an already tense political atmosphere.
Netanyahu's response has placed security at the centre of the political debate, with far-right ministers demanding stronger action against Palestinian armed groups and the Palestinian Authority.
Former Israeli ambassador Alon Pinkas told Al Jazeera that the West Bank had become increasingly volatile, warning that the territory was “on the brink of explosion”.
However, he suggested the latest incident might not significantly change voting patterns because security concerns were already a major factor in Israeli politics.
The shooting also comes amid increased reports of settler violence, military raids and restrictions on Palestinian movement during the olive harvest season.
For residents of Hebron and surrounding communities, the immediate concern is the effect of the new restrictions on daily life. With roads closed, homes being searched and a broader military operation under consideration, uncertainty remains over how long the measures will last and whether they will lead to further escalation.
