The Israeli military reported that two of its soldiers were killed and three others were injured during a shooting attack near Hebron in the West Bank on Friday, October 23. Two suspected Palestinian gunmen, identified by Israel as residents of Hebron, were also killed by security forces during the exchange at the Yehuda Junction. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by ordering a full lockdown of the West Bank and announcing plans for an expanded military operation.
The incident occurred during a period of increased activity in the West Bank, coinciding with the annual olive harvest and an upcoming Israeli national election scheduled for Tuesday, October 27. According to United Nations data, at least 322 Palestinians and 20 Israelis had been killed in the West Bank between January 2025 and August 2026. The U.N. also recorded 160 settler attacks related to the olive harvest in the first two weeks of October 2026.
Israeli emergency services, Magen David Adom, received reports of the attack at approximately 7:15 a.m. local time. Officials stated the gunmen were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. Following an emergency security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu attributed the attack to Hamas, stating the group was planning a larger assault. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that neighborhoods from which the attackers emerged would be evacuated and "terror infrastructure" would be dismantled, comparing the planned approach to operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
The scale of the conflict in 2026 has already resulted in over 340 deaths and 6,000 injuries across both populations according to U.N. figures. For a typical resident, these measures mean restricted access to schools, jobs, and healthcare facilities, particularly during the transition to a "full lockdown" across the entire territory. The timing is also significant for the Israeli electorate; the Tuesday vote serves as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership following the October 7, 2023, attacks. The government’s response to this shooting reinforces security as a central theme of the campaign, which may influence voter turnout and outcomes for the competing parties.
The move also carries political and legal implications for the region. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority—the governing body for parts of the West Bank—in response to the violence. Such a step would alter the legal and administrative framework of the territory. The military has already begun using bulldozers to demolish buildings in Hebron as part of the new orders. The next key dates are the national election on October 27 and the implementation of further lockdown measures across the West Bank, though specific deadlines for the military operation have not been disclosed.