Israel seals Hebron after shooting kills two soldiers

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a major military operation in the West Bank and the full cordon of Hebron on Friday. The decision followed a shooting incident that left two soldiers dead.

The Israeli military identified the fallen service members as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem. Three other soldiers sustained minor injuries in the engagement. The army stated that the two gunmen opened fire at a junction near Hebron before forces killed them at the scene.

Military officials reported finding a large supply of weapons and ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. The army said the haul suggested the men planned a major strike against civilians. The shooters used an M16 rifle and a handgun, according to the report.

Netanyahu instructed troops to evacuate residents from the Hebron neighborhood where the gunmen lived. He ordered a house-to-house search for weapons and declared that the area would be demolished and transformed. Hebron is home to more than 200,000 people.

The prime minister stated that the Israel Defense Forces would enter neighborhoods linked to the attackers to dismantle what he called the terror infrastructure. He noted that Israel is prepared for an extensive campaign in Judea and Samaria, the Israeli name for the West Bank.

Hamas described the gunmen as terrorists and labeled the attack a heroic response to ongoing violence. The group did not claim direct responsibility but urged armed Palestinians in the West Bank to target Israeli soldiers and civilians. Israeli forces have begun offensive counterterrorism operations in the Hebron area and have arrested about 70 wanted Palestinians in the region over the past week.

The escalation occurs days before Israel holds elections on Tuesday. Netanyahu has positioned national security as the central theme of his campaign for another term. He characterized the shooting as an attempt to influence the vote, citing a previous warning about enemy preparations. His Likud party canceled all campaign events for the rest of the day after a senior security meeting.