Netanyahu Orders Hebron Sealed and Wide West Bank Sweep After Double Soldier Killing

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a major military operation in the West Bank and the cordon of Hebron on Friday, following a shooting attack that left two Israeli soldiers dead. The escalation occurred days before Israel holds elections on Tuesday, a period Netanyahu has framed as a central test for his national security platform.

The Israeli military reported that two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a junction near Hebron. Forces killed the attackers at the scene and identified the deceased soldiers as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Three other soldiers sustained light injuries in the exchange.

Army officials stated that a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was discovered in the attackers' vehicle. The military said the findings indicated plans for a major attack on civilians, noting that the shooters used an M16 rifle and a handgun.

Netanyahu instructed troops to evacuate residents from the Hebron neighborhood where the gunmen lived. He directed that the site be demolished to transform the area. "Our first step will be to demolish this site and completely transform it," he said. Hebron has more than 200,000 inhabitants.

The Prime Minister announced a wider campaign would follow the initial cordon. "The IDF will enter the neighborhoods from which the terrorists emerged, evacuate the residents, go house-to-house, and dismantle the terror infrastructure," Netanyahu said. He added that Israel is prepared for an extensive operation in Judea and Samaria.

Hamas described the gunmen as part of a legitimate response to ongoing crimes against its people and land. The group called the attack heroic and urged armed Palestinians in the West Bank to target Israeli soldiers and civilians, though it did not formally claim responsibility. Netanyahu referred to the attackers as Hamas terrorists.

The military began offensive counterterrorism operations in the Hebron area and entered the homes of the attackers and other suspects. It also reported arresting around 70 wanted Palestinians in West Bank operations over the past week. Netanyahu's Likud party stated that senior security chiefs convened on Friday and that all campaign events for the day were canceled. The attack followed a recent surge in violence in the region, including the brief detention of New York Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander by Israeli forces during the olive harvest.