Israeli forces begin demolishing Palestinian buildings in Hebron after two Israeli soldiers shot dead

What Happened

Israeli officials said five Israelis were wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers were killed by Israeli security forces after a gun battle at a military checkpoint at the entrance to Hebron in the occupied West Bank; the article's headline reported two Israeli soldiers killed, but the body text did not specify Israeli fatalities. BBC-verified footage showed an intense exchange of fire between soldiers and gunmen. The Israeli military said it found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle and that it believed the gunmen had intended to carry out a larger attack on nearby Route 35 but opened fire at the checkpoint instead. Unverified CCTV footage showed two gunmen exiting a car armed with a handgun and an assault rifle and firing on soldiers before coming under return fire. The Israeli military began raids on the attackers' homes, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he ordered the demolition of several Palestinian buildings adjacent to the attack site. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the military to prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank beginning later on Friday.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The attack occurred four days before Israel's general election, where Netanyahu has campaigned on security, and amid high tensions during the olive harvest, including reported attacks by extremist Jewish settlers on Palestinians. The Israeli response — a West Bank lockdown, home raids, and demolition orders — signals a potential escalation in the West Bank. UN figures cited in the article count at least 96 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers and four Israelis killed by Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the year, underscoring the deadly context.

Watch For

The full West Bank lockdown was expected to begin later on Friday, and Israeli media said the West Bank was already expected to be under lockdown for the election on Monday and Tuesday. Monitor whether additional raids on the attackers' homes produce arrests or further clashes, whether the demolition orders are carried out, and whether the incident affects the election campaign or prompts retaliatory attacks.