Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to prepare for a closure of the West Bank on Friday, October 23, 2026, following a shooting that killed two Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military reported that soldiers shot and killed two Palestinian men who opened fire near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. At least five others were injured in the incident, including some described by emergency responders as being in serious condition.
The military identified the deceased soldiers as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Officials stated that the gunmen used an M16 rifle and a handgun, and that a search of their vehicle uncovered additional weapons and ammunition. Prime Minister Netanyahu attributed the attack to Hamas, stating the group was planning a larger assault on civilians. Hamas described the shooting as a "heroic" response to Israeli actions but did not formally claim responsibility.
Following the shooting, Netanyahu convened a meeting of the Security Cabinet and ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to cordon off Hebron, a city of more than 200,000 residents. The Prime Minister also directed security forces to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank and to conduct house-to-house searches in the gunmen's home neighborhood. The Likud party subsequently canceled its campaign events for the remainder of the day.
The escalation occurred four days before Israel's national elections, scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, 2026. On Wednesday, October 21, Israeli forces detained approximately 90 volunteers, including U.S. Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander, while they were assisting Palestinian olive harvesters. The military stated those detentions occurred because the harvesters had not submitted required security coordination requests.
The military operation involves house-to-house searches and the planned demolition of the gunmen's home site. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated the IDF would dismantle "terror infrastructure" in the neighborhoods from which the shooters emerged. This follows a week in which the IDF reported the arrest of roughly 70 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank. The military indicated these operations targeted individuals affiliated with groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad and resulted in the seizure of submachine guns and rifles.
The timing of the security measures is tied to the October 27 election, where national security is a central campaign issue. Netanyahu stated that the shooting was an attempt by enemies of Israel to influence the vote, though he did not provide evidence for this claim. Following the Friday shooting, security forces launched "offensive counterterrorism operations" in the Hebron area. Specific end dates for the West Bank-wide closure were not reported.