Netanyahu blocks off West Bank travel after five wounded in terror shooting

The attack occurred near Hebron in the West Bank and wounded five people. Two victims were in critical condition, one was moderately wounded, and two suffered mild injuries. The military said soldiers killed two terrorists, while a manhunt for possible additional attackers continued.

Israel responded with sweeping movement restrictions. Hebron was placed under lockdown, several surrounding villages were closed, and Highway 35 was blocked in both directions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also ordered preparations for a full closure of the West Bank, beginning Friday morning.

The restrictions were intended to limit movement while forces searched for accomplices and carried out arrests. Netanyahu said the IDF and security forces would conduct extensive arrest operations. The measures also disrupted ordinary travel and prompted debate over whether security barriers should remain in place or be removed.

The West Bank is a landlocked territory between Israel and Jordan, west of the Jordan River. Palestinians claim it as part of a future state, while Israel has exercised varying degrees of military and administrative control there. It contains major Palestinian cities, including Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Nablus.

Hebron lies in the southern West Bank, near the border with Israel and close to the area’s southern hills. The article identifies Hebron as the city where the attack and lockdown occurred. It also mentions several surrounding villages, but does not name them or describe their exact locations.

This geography matters because roads and checkpoints connect cities, villages, and military positions. A closure around Hebron can therefore affect nearby communities and regional travel. The article reports that Highway 35, an important route in the area, was later blocked in both directions.

Five people were wounded in the attack near Hebron. Magen David Adom reported that two were in critical condition, one was moderately wounded, and two had mild injuries. The moderately and mildly wounded victims were evacuated to hospitals, while both critically wounded people received medical care.

One man in his twenties was unconscious with gunshot wounds and in extremely serious condition, according to MDA emergency medical technician Zuriel Edri. Another person in extremely serious condition was treated by IDF medical personnel in a mobile intensive care unit. Several wounded people were moved through nearby ambulances.

The military announced that two terrorists had been killed. Army Radio identified them as Hamouda and Firas Jua'ba, both 27 and from the same Hebron family. A manhunt for possible additional terrorists remained underway, and investigators were examining how the attackers approached and whether they had set an ambush.

A military closure or lockdown restricts movement through checkpoints, roadblocks, gates, and controlled crossings. Authorities may stop people from entering or leaving a city, village, or wider area. They may also limit travel between nearby communities, even when residents are not suspected of wrongdoing.

After the Hebron attack, the city was placed under lockdown, several surrounding villages were closed, and Highway 35 was blocked in both directions. These measures could prevent residents from reaching work, schools, hospitals, shops, or family members. They could also delay ambulances and security responses, although wounded people were evacuated during the attack.

The immediate purpose is to isolate the area and help locate attackers or accomplices. Netanyahu said the IDF would conduct extensive arrests, while the manhunt continued. The article also records disagreement over the restrictions: Itamar Ben-Gvir argued that barriers should remain, rather than allowing normal life to resume.

Israel’s authority is not identical across the West Bank. Under the Oslo-era arrangements, the Palestinian Authority administers some Palestinian population centers, while Israel retains extensive security powers in other areas and can conduct operations under its military system. The article does not explain these legal arrangements, so this context comes from established background knowledge.

The IDF is Israel’s military. It guards checkpoints, responds to attacks, searches locations, closes roads, and conducts arrests or raids. Israel’s security forces include agencies that gather intelligence and support investigations. In the article, Netanyahu instructed both the IDF and security forces to impose closures and prepare arrests.

These powers allow rapid restrictions after an attack, but they also affect civilians who are not accused of wrongdoing. The article reports closures in Hebron and nearby villages, plus a Highway 35 blockade. It also says the military planned extensive arrests while searching for possible additional attackers.

Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist political and armed movement. It has been the de facto governing authority in the Gaza Strip since 2007 and has rivaled the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority, created through the Oslo process, administers parts of the West Bank and has its own security services. These roles come from established background knowledge, not details supplied by the article.

The article uses different language for the two organizations. Netanyahu said Israel would pursue Hamas terrorists and those who send them. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the Palestinian Authority to be dismantled, disarmed, and stripped of its alleged terror infrastructure.

The article does not prove that Hamas ordered this specific attack or that the Palestinian Authority was involved. It reports that two attackers were killed and that investigators were still pursuing possible additional terrorists. The distinction matters because Hamas and the Authority are rival Palestinian actors with different political and security roles.

The West Bank has remained disputed since Israel captured it from Jordan during the 1967 war. Palestinians claim the territory for a future independent state, while Israel has maintained military control and established settlements there. The article does not provide this history; these are established facts about the conflict.

The Oslo agreements divided the West Bank into areas with different Palestinian and Israeli responsibilities. Israel retains broad security powers in some areas, while the Palestinian Authority administers parts of Palestinian population centers. Israeli forces, checkpoints, roads, and security operations reflect this divided and unresolved system.

Violence and competing claims reinforce the militarization. The article describes a shooting near Hebron, a manhunt, arrests, village closures, and a highway blockade. It also records calls to dismantle the Palestinian Authority. Without a final political agreement, security measures remain central, while restrictions continue to carry serious consequences for civilian movement.