Two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting attack in the West Bank near Hebron on Friday morning, with the assailants also killed in the ensuing exchange of fire, according to Israeli military officials. The incident occurred near the Yehuda Junction, a checkpoint north of Hebron, and involved two Palestinian gunmen armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. The military said the attack lasted about 20 minutes, during which the soldiers prevented the assailants from reaching nearby Israeli civilians.
The fallen soldiers were identified as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem, 20. Three other Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded. The gunmen were reportedly residents of Hebron, with some reports identifying them as Firas and Hamouda al-Ja’aba, members of the Islamist militant group Hamas, though the Israeli government has not officially confirmed their affiliation. Israeli forces recovered a significant cache of ammunition from the attackers' vehicle, suggesting the assault was intended as part of a larger-scale operation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is campaigning for reelection next Tuesday, visited the site of the attack and vowed a strong military response. He ordered security forces to impose a full closure on Hebron and prepare to close the entire West Bank—a territory Israel also refers to as Judea and Samaria—starting Friday. Netanyahu described the attackers as terrorists aiming to kill civilians and promised a sweeping campaign targeting what he called “terror infrastructure” in the area.
Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners have voiced support for a hardline approach. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for expanding military operations in the West Bank, including dismantling the Palestinian Authority, collecting weapons, and demolishing properties associated with militants. Smotrich authorized the immediate demolition of Palestinian-owned buildings near the attack site, describing the measures as “establishing deterrence.” Critics argue that obtaining Israeli construction permits in the West Bank is nearly impossible, rendering many Palestinian structures illegal under current regulations.
Following the assault, Israeli forces conducted extensive operations throughout the West Bank, arresting dozens of suspects linked to militant groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and seizing additional weapons. The military said this was the fourth time in the past month that the West Bank faced widespread movement restrictions, including closures of gates and checkpoints affecting Palestinian communities, although Israeli settlers retained access to main roads.
Hamas praised the attack, describing it as a “natural and legitimate response” to Israeli actions in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza. The group maintained its stance of continuing armed resistance until what it sees as Israeli aggression ends.
The attack has heightened political tensions in Israel ahead of the parliamentary election, underscoring ongoing security concerns. Netanyahu and his supporters emphasize strong security policies as essential to the country’s safety, while critics warn that the military’s punitive measures may deepen divisions and hardship for Palestinians. U.S. Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander, who visited the West Bank shortly before the attack, characterized Israel’s security responses as part of a system enforcing severe restrictions on Palestinians’ movement and life, which he described using the term “apartheid.”
Amid the polarized reactions, former military chief and opposition figure Gadi Eisenkot praised the soldiers’ bravery but criticized Netanyahu for failing to prevent previous large-scale attacks, while far-right political factions called for annexation of the West Bank and an intensified campaign against Palestinian militant networks. The incident underscores the fragile and volatile security landscape as Israel approaches a pivotal national election.