West Bank Shooting Leaves Five Israelis Wounded, Two Attackers Dead
Incident near Hebron prompts lockdown and military closures hours before general election.
Callum Smith
Five Israelis sustained injuries and two suspected Palestinian attackers were killed in a West Bank shooting.
Emergency responder Tzuriel Edri confirmed the volatile situation: "We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly announced a lockdown of Hebron following the attack. His Likud party cancelled all campaign events scheduled for the morning.
We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area.
The Israeli military established roadblocks and closures across Palestinian towns in the area. The Prime Minister's office also ordered the army to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank.
The shooting unfolded at the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint near Hebron. Two men in their 20s suffered gunshot wounds to their lower limbs; one remained unconscious and seriously injured.
Security forces discovered a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. Authorities identified the two Palestinian gunmen as Mohammad Jaaba and Firas Jaaba, both 27-year-old residents of Hebron.
The Israeli military stated the two men shot and killed had launched an attack, carrying an M16 rifle and a handgun. The military further asserted the attackers intended a much larger operation, claiming the army prevented a "terror attack against Israeli civilians."
Hamas hailed the attack as an "exceptional heroic operation" but did not claim responsibility. Prime Minister Netanyahu had previously claimed Hamas could attack Israel to influence the election outcome.
exceptional heroic operation
Israeli media outlets reported Hamas warned of a "second October 7" attack. Hamas officials conveyed this threat through United Nations humanitarian coordinator Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov.