Israeli troopers and emergency personnel collect close to ambulances following a capturing attack close to Yehuda Junction, close to Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.

Mahmoud Illean/AP

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Mahmoud Illean/AP

HEBRON, West Bank — Israeli troopers shot and killed two males who the army said had launched an attack close to the metropolis of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday morning. At least 5 individuals were injured, including some critically.

The military said it prevented a “terror attack against Israeli civilians” and that the gunmen carried an M16 rifle and a handgun. It did not elaborate on the goal of the alleged attack. There was also no phrase on the identities of the two useless and these injured.

A few hours later, Israel ordered the military to put together for a full closure of the West Bank. The workplace of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it instructed safety forces to instantly cordon off the metropolis of Hebron and put together to absolutely shut all of the West Bank, beginning Friday.

The lethal capturing comes as Israeli voters will resolve next Tuesday whether to grant Netanyahu yet another time period as prime minister — or usher in a new period of Israeli politics. The election comes three years after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel that triggered the conflict in Gaza.

Israel’s authorities has warned of potential attacks by the nation’s “enemies” in the lead-up to the election.

Netanyahu holds an emergency assembly

Following the capturing, Netanyahu held an emergency assembly of his Security Cabinet and officers from prime army and safety businesses. He blamed Hamas, saying the militant group was “planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians.”

“Our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination,” he said, with out elaborating on what the deliberate attack entailed.

“I commend them for their actions and wish our wounded a speedy recovery,” he added but did not say if the wounded were troopers or civilians.

Earlier Friday Israel’s far-right nationwide safety minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, identified for extremist views, said that the attack exhibits that Israel wants to prohibit the Palestinians’ freedom of motion in the West Bank.

“The lives of the residents of Judea and Samaria, of the settlers, the lives of the soldiers, the lives of the police officers, the lives of our fighters are a million times more important than freedom of movement,” he said, utilizing an Israeli reference to the West Bank.

Ahead of the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack that triggered the conflict, Netanyahu said the Palestinian militant group could attack Israel in a bid to affect the final result of the elections. He did not present proof to back up the claim.

The injured are evacuated to a hospital, medics say

Emergency responders said 5 individuals were injured, some critically, and were being evacuated to hospitals in Israel. An announcement from the responders said gunfire was still ongoing as they arrived at the scene of the attack close to the Yehuda Junction in the morning.

Two males in their 20s had gunshot wounds to their decrease limbs, one was unconscious and critically injured, the responders said.

“We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area,” said Tzuriel Edri with the response workforce.

An investigation was underway, authorities said.

Also Friday, the military said troopers and Israeli safety and intelligence businesses carried out dozens of operations in the West Bank and apprehended dozens of individuals, including these affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant teams. It also said it had situated weapons, including M16 rifles and submachine weapons.

Closures of the West Bank, such as the one ordered Friday, are rising more widespread in the territory. It’s the fourth time in the previous month that Israel has imposed restrictions across the space, shutting gates and checkpoints connecting Palestinian villages to main roads.

Meanwhile, Israeli roads in the territory stay open to Israeli drivers, including settlers, who can still journey through the space but may face delays.