The Israeli occupation army said on Friday that it killed two Palestinians who carried out a shooting attack near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, injuring six Israelis, two of whom were in critical condition.
Hebrew media reported that the six injured were soldiers from a reserve battalion affiliated with the Israeli Home Front Command.
In a series of statements, the Israeli army said it initially received reports of casualties in a shooting attack and sent military reinforcements to the area. It then imposed closures and launched search operations before establishing a security cordon around several surrounding villages.
Channel 14 reported that the attack targeted a military tower near the settlement of Telem, adding that an exchange of fire took place between Israeli forces and the attackers.
20-Minute Gunfight
Al Jazeera reported that the Israeli army deployed large military reinforcements to the western entrance of Hebron, where the Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint is located near the site of the attack.
The channel quoted eyewitnesses as saying that gunfire at the checkpoint continued for more than 20 minutes. Yedioth Ahronoth also confirmed the prolonged exchange of fire, saying it delayed the evacuation of the wounded.
Zuri’el Idri, an emergency medic with Israel’s Magen David Adom, said medical teams arrived while the shooting was still underway. They entered the area in an armored ambulance and immediately began evacuating the wounded.
The Israeli army had declared a state of emergency in several settlements near Hebron after one of the attackers fled, before later announcing that both attackers had been killed.
The Farsh al-Hawa checkpoint is one of the main military checkpoints surrounding Hebron. For Palestinians, it has become a symbol of the daily humiliation they face and the repeated closures that disrupt their movement and travel.
Reserve Battalion Targeted
The Hebrew news website Walla reported that the shooting targeted a reserve battalion affiliated with the Israeli Home Front Command.
Channel 14 provided further details, saying soldiers from the Ari Battalion of the Home Front Command were stationed at the checkpoint in what was their first operational deployment.
It added that the Israeli security establishment believes the two attackers, who arrived in a vehicle carrying Israeli license plates, had planned to carry out a large-scale attack, but that a temporary checkpoint established by Israeli forces prevented them from doing so.
Hebrew websites published video footage showing heavy gunfire during the attack, as well as several weapons that they said were used by the attackers.
Channel 14 later released additional footage from the scene showing spent bullet casings scattered around the area, along with a vehicle it said belonged to one of the attackers.
The channel confirmed that Israeli forces killed both attackers at the scene, while security forces continued extensive search operations in the area.
“The Plan Was Much Larger”
Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the two attackers near Hebron were carrying a large quantity of ammunition intended for a wider-scale attack.
Zamir said the soldiers’ rapid response prevented a more serious attack, according to Channels 12 and i24NEWS.
Initial details reported by Hebrew media indicate that the two attackers arrived in a vehicle with a yellow Israeli license plate. One was armed with a rifle and the other with a handgun. They attempted to flee toward Hebron but were killed near the site.
The Israeli army spokesperson said Zamir had approved a Central Command plan to impose a complete security cordon on Hebron and other villages in the area, while intensifying arrest operations and strengthening intelligence efforts around the city.
Political Reactions
Hebrew media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency security meeting following the attack.
Netanyahu also reportedly instructed his party to cancel all election-related activities following the shooting.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described the attack as a “bloody and harsh reminder” of the consequences of what he called a flawed security doctrine. He warned against waiting for a repeat of the October 7 events in the West Bank and called for action before it was too late.
Upon arriving at the scene, Ben-Gvir called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority and the disarming of its forces, as well as the complete elimination of what he described as terrorist infrastructure.
“Response to Occupation Crimes”
On the Palestinian side, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine praised the shooting attack near Hebron, describing it as a natural response to the crimes of the occupation.
The Popular Front also called for the formation of popular protection committees across the West Bank to confront settler attacks.
