A shooting attack at a West Bank checkpoint on Friday left two Israeli soldiers dead and prompted a swift military response.
The Israeli military said the attack took place at a junction on Route 35 near Hebron, a city in the southern West Bank. According to the Israel Defense Forces, two Palestinian gunmen, both 27 years old and from the Hebron area, opened fire at the checkpoint, triggering a gunfight with Israeli troops that lasted more than 20 minutes. Two Israeli soldiers, identified as Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, were killed, and several other people were wounded, one critically. The two gunmen were shot dead by Israeli troops as they tried to flee the scene, the military said.
Following the shooting, the IDF said it launched a raid in the Hebron area and ordered preparations for a broader closure of movement across parts of the West Bank while the investigation into the attack continued. Israeli officials said the military believed the gunmen may have been planning a larger attack. The West Bank, home to both Palestinian population centers and Israeli communities, has periodically seen outbreaks of violence, and security forces on both sides regularly operate checkpoints like the one near Hebron as part of broader efforts to manage movement and security in the territory.
The attack comes during a period of heightened political activity in Israel ahead of an upcoming election, with incumbent and opposition leaders both campaigning in recent days. Israeli leaders across the political spectrum condemned the attack and called for a firm security response.
Watch for updates from the IDF investigation into the attack and any further movement restrictions announced for the Hebron area in the coming days.
Where did the attack take place?
At a checkpoint on Route 35 near Hebron in the southern West Bank.
Were the attackers caught?
The Israeli military said the two gunmen were shot dead by troops as they tried to flee the scene.