Overview
- On Friday two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near the Farsh al‑Hawa/Judea Junction checkpoint outside Hebron, wounding at least five Israelis before Israeli forces shot and killed the attackers.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an immediate cordon of Hebron, canceled Likud campaign events, and told the military to prepare large‑scale operations that include evacuations and door‑to‑door searches.
- The Israel Defense Forces said it found a large quantity of weapons and ammunition in the attackers' vehicle and launched offensive raids, widespread arrests, and searches in the Hebron area.
- Hard‑line ministers called for harsher measures including dismantling the Palestinian Authority, while Hamas praised the attack without claiming responsibility, reflecting deep political polarization over the response.
- Tighter checkpoints, closures and arrest waves are already in place in the West Bank and could cause displacement and wider unrest while also becoming a central security issue in the election campaign.