Netanyahu orders West Bank closure after checkpoint gun battle
SCMP · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint near Hebron in the occupied West Bank early on Friday, wounding five Israelis, two of them critically, before Israeli troops shot and killed both attackers. After the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an immediate cordon on Hebron and said security forces should prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank, which he referred to as Judea and Samaria, starting the same day
Key Points
- The shooting happened near the Judea Junction area, also known as the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint, close to the Palestinian city of Hebron
- Israeli authorities said five people were wounded; emergency service Magen David Adom said two were in critical condition, including a man in his 20s with severe gunshot wounds.
- An AFP journalist at the scene saw two Palestinian men in civilian clothes, armed with a handgun and an automatic rifle, exchanging fire with Israeli forces
- The Israeli military said soldiers rushed to the area after the early-morning attack, killed the two gunmen and continued searches nearby.
- Netanyahu said troops had prevented what could have been a major attack and alleged the assailants had a large quantity of ammunition in their vehicle
Why It Matters
Netanyahu also cancelled all political meetings on Friday after the attack, and the closure order came only days before Israel’s election on Tuesday, placing security at the centre of the campaign. For Hong Kong readers following Middle East risks, the incident points to the potential for sudden movement restrictions and further instability in the occupied West Bank