West Bank on Full Lockdown After Deadly Hebron Checkpoint Shooting

Following a shooting incident at a military checkpoint near Hebron that left five individuals injured, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a complete lockdown of the occupied West Bank. The directive, announced by Mr. Netanyahu's office, mandates an immediate cordon around the city of Hebron and preparation for a full closure of the entire West Bank, effective immediately. The Israeli military reported that two suspects, armed with a rifle and a handgun, were killed during the incident. Two of the injured are reportedly in critical condition.

Palestinian media identified the deceased suspects as 27-year-old Hebron residents Mohammad Jaaba and Firas Jaaba, who were reportedly planning a large-scale attack on Israelis, according to the military. The incident occurred amidst a backdrop of increased settler and military violence against Palestinians in the West Bank during the olive harvest season, as Israel approaches elections that could potentially unseat Mr. Netanyahu's ultranationalist government.

In the wake of the attack, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a resident of the illegal Hebron settlement of Kiryat Arba, called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. He stated, "We have to act before it’s too late. The Palestinian Authority must be dismantled and demilitarised, and its terror infrastructure wiped out completely."

Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, Israel’s military chief of staff, described the attack as "serious," noting that a significant quantity of ammunition was discovered in the vehicle used by the assailants, intended for a larger-scale operation.