Hebron: Five wounded in shooting attack, as Netanyahu orders a full closure of the West Bank

Five people were wounded on the morning of Friday, October 23, in a shooting attack near the Judea junction, south of Hebron in the West Bank, according to The Jerusalem Post. The Israeli army said the two attackers were killed and later clarified that there were no other attackers. The army and the Shin Bet security service are examining whether the two belonged to a small independent cell or to a wider network. The Israeli government attributes the attack to Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Hebron closed and preparations for a full closure of the entire West Bank. “I instructed the Israeli army and the security forces to immediately impose a closure on the city of Hebron and to prepare a full closure of all of Judea and Samaria, starting today,” he said. He added that the army will carry out extensive waves of arrests. “We will hunt the Hamas terrorists and those who send them, wherever they are. You have nowhere to hide.”

The wounded and the attack

The Magen David Adom first aid service said that of the five wounded, two are in critical condition, one is moderately hurt and two are lightly injured. A paramedic described treating a man of about 20, unconscious and with gunshot wounds. Another seriously wounded person was treated by army medical staff in a mobile intensive care unit.

Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir called the attack serious. “The soldiers’ rapid response prevented an even more serious attack and more casualties among civilians and security forces,” he said. “A large quantity of ammunition intended for a larger-scale attack was found in the vehicle in which the terrorists arrived.” The two occupants of the car had an M4 rifle and a pistol. Army sources assess they intended to cross the junction and strike on the busy Route 35, but attacked the soldiers when they saw them at the spot. After the attack the army closed Hebron and several neighbouring villages, as well as Route 35 in both directions.

Army Radio reports that the two attackers were 27 years old and members of the same family from Hebron. In video from the scene a soldier can be heard saying the gunmen fired for more than 20 minutes. Netanyahu cancelled planned Likud events for Friday, in the middle of Israel’s election campaign. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority. “We must not wait for an October 7 in Judea and Samaria,” he wrote.

Tension in the West Bank has risen in recent weeks, with settler attacks and arrests that also concerned European diplomats.