Israel Seals Hebron as Netanyahu Orders Evacuations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that he has ordered a major military operation in the West Bank. He instructed troops to cordon off the city of Hebron following a shooting attack that left two Israeli soldiers dead. The decision comes days before national elections scheduled for Tuesday.

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

Soldiers found a large quantity of weapons and ammunition inside the attackers' vehicle. The military stated that the haul indicated plans for a major attack on civilians. The shooters used an M16 rifle and a handgun during the ambush.

Netanyahu ordered residents evacuated from the specific Hebron neighborhood where the gunmen lived. Troops will conduct a house-to-house search for weapons in that area. He stated, 'Our first step will be to demolish this site and completely transform it.' The city of Hebron has more than 200,000 inhabitants.

The prime minister said a wider campaign would follow the initial search. '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, the name Israel uses for the West Bank.

Netanyahu described the gunmen as Hamas terrorists. Hamas called the attack a heroic response to ongoing Israeli actions. The group did not claim formal responsibility but urged armed Palestinians in the West Bank to attack Israeli forces and civilians. The Israeli military said it had arrested around 70 wanted Palestinians in West Bank operations over the past week.

Netanyahu characterized the shooting as an attempt to influence the upcoming vote. He recalled a warning issued weeks earlier that enemies of Israel were preparing attacks to sway the election. His Likud party said he convened senior security chiefs on Friday and canceled all campaign events for the rest of the day.