Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others wounded in a gun attack by Palestinian assailants in the West Bank on Friday, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to announce plans for a large-scale military operation in the occupied territory just days before national elections. The attack occurred near a checkpoint outside Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank. Israeli forces subsequently shot dead the two Palestinians involved.
Following the incident, Netanyahu visited the site and pledged to carry out a comprehensive offensive targeting the neighborhood from which the attackers emerged. He stated that Israeli forces would evacuate residents from the area, conduct house-to-house searches for weapons, and dismantle what he described as terrorist infrastructure. Netanyahu indicated that the operation would follow a model previously applied in northern West Bank refugee camps like Jenin and Tulkarm, where Israeli military actions since early 2025 have involved large-scale displacement, home demolitions, and significant military presence. These earlier campaigns displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of whom remain unable to return to their homes, according to United Nations reports.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed Netanyahu’s statements, affirming that entire clan neighborhoods affiliated with the attackers would be emptied and the terror networks dismantled. Katz compared the approach to Israel’s previous military responses in Gaza and Lebanon and emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward what he labeled jihadist terrorism.
The Israeli military confirmed that the two gunmen were armed with an assault rifle and handgun and that a large cache of ammunition was found in their vehicle. Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the military chief of staff, credited the swift response of troops with preventing a more serious assault and further casualties.
In the wake of the attack, Israeli security forces imposed a security cordon around Hebron and nearby areas, closing all entrances and exits to the city. Checkpoints and travel restrictions have been enforced, including the closure of the Palestinian-run section of the Ibrahimi Mosque, a religious site significant to Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Palestinian officials and residents criticized the closure and restrictions, with Hebron’s mayor, Yousef Jabari, denouncing what he described as collective punishment affecting the broader population, including those with medical appointments and other obligations. Jabari also reported disruptions to waste collection services due to movement restrictions.
The recent violence comes amid an uptick in hostilities across the West Bank since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023 and the ensuing war in Gaza. Palestinian militants have carried out shootings and stabbings targeting Israeli civilians and soldiers, while extremist Jewish settlers have intensified attacks on Palestinians, including arson, crop destruction, and theft. According to the United Nations, over 1,000 Palestinians have been injured in settler-related incidents so far in 2026.
Hamas praised the Friday attack as a "heroic operation" and urged further assaults in the West Bank but stopped short of claiming direct responsibility.
Israeli political analysts expressed concern that Netanyahu’s response to the attack might be influenced by the imminent election scheduled for next Tuesday, as his right-wing coalition faces a tight race against opposition parties. Some commentators cautioned that the attack’s characteristics were not unprecedented and cautioned against escalation solely for political gain.
Opposition leaders, including former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, praised the Israeli soldiers’ actions in foiling a larger attack. Hard-line government ministers have called for more stringent measures, including dismantling the Palestinian Authority and restricting Palestinian movement on West Bank highways.
The dynamics in the West Bank reflect deep-seated tensions fueled by longstanding disputes over territory, settlement activities, and governance, with no clear resolution in sight as violence has surged in recent months.