Hebron Cordon and West Bank Sweep Ordered After Double Soldier Killing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a comprehensive military operation in the West Bank on Friday following a shooting that killed two soldiers. The directive includes a full cordon of Hebron and the evacuation of residents from the specific neighborhood where the attackers resided. Netanyahu stated the initial phase involves demolishing the attackers' site and transforming it, while the broader campaign aims to dismantle what he called the terror infrastructure in Judea and Samaria.

The conflict escalated quickly after the attack on Friday. Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a junction near Hebron, killing Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Three other soldiers sustained light wounds. Israeli forces killed both shooters at the scene. The military discovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition in the vehicle used by the attackers, including an M16 rifle and a handgun. Army officials said the volume of arms indicated plans for a major attack on civilians.

In response, the Israeli Defense Forces began offensive counterterrorism operations in the Hebron area. Soldiers moved into the homes of the attackers and other suspects to conduct searches. The military reported arresting approximately 70 wanted Palestinians during operations across the West Bank over the past week. Netanyahu described the gunmen as Hamas terrorists, although the group did not officially claim responsibility for the specific incident.

Hamas labeled the attack heroic and a legitimate response to ongoing crimes against its people and land. The group urged armed Palestinians in the West Bank to target Israeli soldiers and civilians. This escalation occurs days before Israeli elections scheduled for Tuesday. Netanyahu has made national security a central theme of his campaign, arguing the shooting was an attempt to influence the vote. He recalled a warning issued weeks earlier that Israel's enemies were preparing attacks to sway the election results.

His Likud party confirmed that senior security chiefs were convened on Friday. All campaign events for the remainder of the day were canceled. The attack follows a recent surge in violence in the West Bank. It also occurred after Brad Lander, a New York Democratic candidate for Congress, was briefly detained by Israeli forces this week while assisting Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest.