Netanyahu Orders Hebron Cordon and Demolitions After Two Troops Slain

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a cordon of Hebron and a major military operation in the West Bank on Friday. The directive followed a shooting at a junction near the city that left two Israeli soldiers dead. The attack occurred just days before national elections scheduled for Tuesday.

The Israeli military identified the victims as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Three other soldiers sustained minor injuries when the two gunmen opened fire. Army forces killed both attackers at the scene. Investigators found a large cache of weapons and ammunition inside the shooters' vehicle. The army stated this haul indicated plans for a major assault on civilians. The attackers used an M16 rifle and a handgun.

Netanyahu instructed troops to evacuate residents from the specific Hebron neighborhood where the gunmen lived. He directed soldiers to conduct house-to-house searches for weapons. "Our first step will be to demolish this site and completely transform it," Netanyahu said. Hebron is home to more than 200,000 people. The Prime Minister described a wider campaign that would dismantle what he called the terror infrastructure in areas linked to the shooters.

The Israeli military began offensive counterterrorism operations in the Hebron area on Friday. Soldiers moved into the homes of the attackers and other suspects. The army announced it arrested approximately 70 wanted Palestinians during West Bank operations over the previous week. Netanyahu characterized the shooting as an attempt to influence the upcoming vote. He recalled a warning issued weeks earlier that adversaries were preparing attacks to sway the election.

Hamas, which Israel and the United States have designated a terrorist group, called the attack heroic. The organization described the violence as a legitimate response to ongoing crimes against Palestinians. Hamas did not claim direct responsibility for the shooting. The group urged armed Palestinians in the West Bank to target Israeli soldiers and civilians. Netanyahu’s Likud party stated that security chiefs convened on Friday to review the situation. All campaign events for the rest of the day were canceled.

The incident follows a recent surge in violence across the West Bank. It also arrived after Brad Lander, a New York Democratic candidate for Congress, was briefly detained by Israeli forces. Lander was assisting Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest when the detention occurred.