Netanyahu Threatens Major West Bank Operation After After Two Israeli Soldiers Killed Near Hebron

Jerusalem (Terror Monitor) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened a major military operation in the occupied West Bank, describing the proposed campaign as potentially unprecedented since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, after Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three others near the city of Hebron.

Netanyahu also ordered Israeli forces to impose a security cordon around Hebron and prepare for extensive operations involving the evacuation of residents, house-to-house searches and the destruction of what Israel describes as militant infrastructure.

The developments followed a shooting attack on Friday, October 23, at a military checkpoint near the Farsh al-Hawa area, also known as the Judea Junction, near Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank.

According to the Israeli military, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near the checkpoint before being killed by Israeli forces in a prolonged exchange of fire. Two Israeli soldiers were subsequently confirmed dead, while three others were wounded.

Netanyahu Threatens Operation Unseen Since 1967

Speaking after reviewing the security situation, Netanyahu said he and Defence Minister Israel Katz were considering a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank.

He described the proposed campaign as one of a scale not seen since the 1967 war, when Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, along with other Arab territories.

Netanyahu said the military was prepared to carry out the operation but that the timing would be determined by the Israeli leadership.

According to statements released by his office, the initial phase would involve entering the neighbourhood from which the attackers allegedly came, evacuating residents, conducting house-to-house searches, seizing weapons and destroying what Israel calls terrorist infrastructure.

The proposed measures could significantly affect Palestinian residents in Hebron, a major city in the southern West Bank with a population of more than 200,000.

Two Israeli Soldiers Killed in Shooting

The Israeli military confirmed that two soldiers were killed in the attack near the checkpoint.

The soldiers were identified as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem, 20.

The military said three other soldiers were wounded in the shooting. Earlier reports from emergency responders said five Israelis had been injured, with two initially reported to be in critical condition.

An AFP journalist who witnessed the confrontation reported seeing two Palestinian men armed with a handgun and an automatic rifle exchanging fire with Israeli forces near the checkpoint.

Israeli troops eventually shot and killed both suspected attackers following the gun battle.

Israel Orders Closure of Hebron

Following the attack, Netanyahu ordered Israeli forces to immediately establish a security cordon around Hebron and introduce additional measures intended to prevent further attacks.

Israeli forces also began operations in the surrounding area, including searches and arrests, while restrictions were imposed on movement in parts of the occupied West Bank.

According to Israeli media reports, security officials were preparing for a broader closure of the territory, including restrictions at checkpoints and road entrances connecting Palestinian communities.

The Israeli military said the attackers had arrived in a vehicle carrying a substantial quantity of ammunition. Israeli officials alleged that the gunmen had been preparing a larger attack against civilians, although the full details of the alleged plan have not been independently established.

The military was also investigating whether the two men acted alone or had links to a wider armed network.

Netanyahu Accuses Hamas of Planning a Larger Attack

Netanyahu accused Hamas of planning a major attack intended to kill Israeli civilians, saying the quantity of weapons and ammunition allegedly recovered supported Israel's assessment.

He praised the response of Israeli soldiers and said their actions had prevented what could have become a larger attack.

Hamas, however, did not claim responsibility for the shooting. The Palestinian group described the incident as a “heroic operation” and called on its supporters to carry out further attacks, according to reports by international news agencies.

No independently verified evidence has established that Hamas directly organised or directed the shooting.

Videos Show Prolonged Gun Battle

Footage circulated following the incident appeared to show an extended exchange of fire between Israeli forces and the two Palestinian gunmen near the checkpoint at Hebron's northern entrance.

An AFP photographer who was in the area witnessed the confrontation. The men were reportedly armed with an automatic rifle and a handgun.

Israeli forces subsequently killed both men, and troops deployed around the scene as security operations continued.

The military also launched searches in the Hebron area as part of its investigation into the attack and the suspected attackers' backgrounds.

The identities and affiliations of the two men were not immediately independently confirmed by all reporting agencies, while Israeli authorities continued investigating whether additional individuals were involved.

Wider Implications for Palestinians in the West Bank

The threatened operation comes amid continuing violence and heightened security restrictions across the occupied West Bank.

Israeli forces have repeatedly conducted raids, arrests and demolitions in Palestinian towns and refugee camps, while Palestinian armed groups have carried out attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians.

Human rights organisations and international observers have raised concerns about the consequences of broad military operations, particularly when they involve forced displacement, restrictions on movement or damage to civilian property.

Netanyahu's proposed operation could lead to further restrictions on residents of Hebron and neighbouring Palestinian communities if the announced measures are implemented.

The latest escalation also comes days before Israel's parliamentary election, scheduled for Tuesday. Security has become a major issue in the campaign, with Netanyahu presenting his government as determined to prevent further attacks.

As of Friday, Israeli authorities had announced plans for an extensive operation but had not provided a complete timetable or a comprehensive account of the proposed campaign. The scope of any displacement, searches and demolitions remains unclear.