West Bank Security: Hebron Cordoned After Double Soldier Killing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a major military operation in the West Bank on Friday, directing forces to cordon off Hebron after two soldiers were killed in a shooting.

The Israeli military reported that two Palestinian men opened fire at a junction near Hebron. Forces at the scene killed the gunmen, who were identified as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Three other soldiers sustained light wounds.

Army officials stated that the attackers' vehicle contained a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, including an M16 rifle and a handgun. The military said these findings indicated plans for a major attack on civilians.

Netanyahu instructed troops to evacuate residents from the Hebron neighborhood where the gunmen lived to prepare for a house-to-house search for weapons. He stated, "Our first step will be to demolish this site and completely transform it." He added that the Israel Defense Forces would enter the neighborhoods, evacuate residents, and dismantle the terror infrastructure.

The Prime Minister described the operation as extensive, using the term Judea and Samaria for the West Bank. He characterized the shooters as Hamas terrorists. Hamas, which did not claim formal responsibility, called the attack heroic and a legitimate response to ongoing crimes against its people, land, and holy sites. The group urged armed Palestinians in the territory to target Israeli soldiers and civilians.

The military confirmed it had begun offensive counterterrorism operations in the Hebron area, with soldiers operating inside the homes of the attackers and other suspects. Over the past week, the army arrested approximately 70 wanted Palestinians in West Bank operations.

The escalation occurs days before Israel holds elections on Tuesday, with national security as a central theme for Netanyahu's campaign. His Likud party canceled all campaign events for Friday after he convened senior security chiefs. The shooting follows a recent surge in West Bank violence, including the brief detention of New York Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander by Israeli forces during the olive harvest this week.