Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a lockdown of Hebron and preparations for a wider closure of the West Bank following a shooting attack near the city that left five people wounded.
The restrictions were announced on Friday morning after Israeli authorities said two Hamas terrorists involved in the attack had been killed. Security forces continued searching for any additional suspects who might have been involved.
“I have instructed the IDF and security forces to immediately impose a closure on the city of Hebron and prepare for a full lockdown of all of Judea and Samaria, beginning today,” Netanyahu said.
He added that the military would conduct extensive arrest operations and pursue those responsible for the attack.
“We will pursue Hamas terrorists and those who send them, wherever they are and at any time,” Netanyahu said. “You have nowhere to hide.”
Five People Wounded as Israeli Forces Respond
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service reported that five people were injured in the attack. Two were in critical condition, one was moderately wounded and two sustained mild injuries.
The wounded were taken for medical treatment, while another critically injured victim received assistance from military medical personnel.
MDA emergency medical technician Zuriel Edri said medical teams treated a man in his twenties who had suffered gunshot wounds and was unconscious when he was brought to an ambulance.
“We brought a man in his 20s into the ambulance. He was unconscious, suffering from gunshot wounds, and in extremely serious condition. We provided him with medical treatment,” Edri said.
He added that additional victims were transferred to MDA ambulances and taken to hospitals. Another person in extremely serious condition was treated by IDF medical personnel in a mobile intensive care unit.
Military Says Soldiers Prevented a Larger Attack
The Israel Defense Forces said the actions of soldiers at the scene helped prevent further casualties. According to the military, a large quantity of ammunition was discovered in the vehicle used by the attackers to reach the area.
IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir described the incident as a serious attack and said the ammunition indicated that the perpetrators had intended to carry out a larger operation.
“This was a serious attack. The soldiers’ swift actions prevented an even more serious attack and further harm to civilians and security forces,” Zamir said.
He added that the ammunition recovered from the vehicle had been intended for an attack on a larger scale.
According to reports, the attackers may have planned to target civilians but were prevented from carrying out their reported intentions by Israeli forces deployed in the area.
Hebron and Nearby Areas Placed Under Restrictions
Following the shooting, the IDF imposed a lockdown on Hebron and closed several nearby villages. Highway 35 was subsequently blocked in both directions.
Army Radio identified the two attackers as Hamouda and Firas Jua’ba, reporting that both were 27-year-old members of the same family from Hebron. The report said each man was married and had two children.
A video recorded during the incident captured a soldier describing continued gunfire at the scene. The soldier said the attacker had been shooting for more than 20 minutes and that exchanges of fire were still taking place while forces attempted to reach the wounded.
The recording also captured urgent calls for assistance as injured people were evacuated.
Several people reportedly took cover from the gunfire behind an armoured ambulance positioned near the scene. Paramedics and others could be heard coordinating the evacuation of the wounded.
Reports Point to Possible Ambush Near a Military Checkpoint
Israeli media outlet Walla reported that the attack may have targeted a reservists’ battalion and that the attackers could have used the weather conditions to approach a checkpoint without being detected.
One possibility under investigation is that the two men ambushed soldiers, opened fire and then attempted to flee.
Authorities had not announced a final account of the attackers’ movements, while the search for any other suspects remained ongoing.
Netanyahu Cancels Likud Events Following Attack
Netanyahu announced that Likud events scheduled for Friday morning had been cancelled following the attack.
The incident also prompted calls from Israeli political figures for further security measures and a tougher response to Palestinian militant activity in the West Bank.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the Palestinian Authority to be dismantled and disarmed, arguing that its alleged terror infrastructure should be eliminated.
“The severe attack that has just taken place serves as a bloody, harsh, and painful reminder of the price of the conception,” Ben-Gvir wrote.
He warned against waiting for another attack on the scale of October 7 and said the government should take action before such an incident occurred in Judea and Samaria.
“The Palestinian Authority must be dismantled, disarmed, and its terror infrastructure completely eradicated. The blood of our soldiers is not up for grabs,” he added.
Ben-Gvir Visits Scene and Opposes Easing Restrictions
Ben-Gvir also travelled to the scene of the attack, where he said he did not want roadblocks and security cordons removed to allow residents to return to their normal routines.
“As long as there’s terror, they should not be able to live as normal,” he said.
The minister also referred to his previous position that freedom of movement for residents of the area should be secondary to the right of Jews to live there.
“When I said, two or three years ago, that the freedom of movement for residents of the area was less important than the right of Jews to live, more than a few people rose up against me,” he added.
Israeli Opposition Figures Demand a Tougher Response
Other Israeli politicians also responded to the attack, with several calling for stronger action against militant groups.
Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, posted on X, formerly Twitter, offering prayers for the injured and praising the Israeli soldiers who responded to the shooting.
Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman described the incident as a difficult morning for Israel and questioned the continued use of a policy he characterised as containing rather than eliminating terrorism.
“How many more attacks do we need to absorb to understand that we cannot continue with the policy of containment?” Liberman said.
“Terror is eliminated, not contained!” he added.
Ofer Winter, chairman of the People of Israel party, argued that road closures and limited demolitions of properties belonging to attackers were insufficient.
He called instead for what he described as a comprehensive campaign aimed at eliminating terrorism, warning that another major attack could originate in Judea and Samaria if Israel continued responding only after incidents occurred.
