Israeli PM orders encirclement of West Bank

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to prepare a "total encirclement" of the occupied West Bank following an armed attack that injured five Israelis. The directive came after a firefight in Hebron, where two attackers were killed, and Netanyahu called for immediate military action in the region.

Attack in Hebron and military response

The attack occurred at an army checkpoint near Hebron, the largest city in the occupied West Bank. Two attackers opened fire on soldiers before being shot dead. In response, the Israeli army launched "anti-terror operations" in Hebron and other areas, stating soldiers were operating in the homes of suspected terrorists. The city was reportedly "locked down" during the operation.

Ben Gvir calls for dismantling Palestinian Authority

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right politician, called for the "dismantling" of the Palestinian Authority, warning that the West Bank could be the site of the next war. He urged immediate action to demilitarize the Palestinian Authority, referencing the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza.

Casualties and details of the attack

Five Israelis were injured in the attack, with two of them in critical condition, according to Magen David Adom, Israel's emergency medical service. The injured were all in their twenties, though it was not specified whether they were soldiers or civilians. The firefight lasted about twenty minutes before the attackers were killed.

Hamas calls attack 'heroic'

Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group, described the attack as "heroic" but did not claim responsibility. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to track down all members of Hamas, stating he would pursue them "everywhere and at any time." The attack occurred amid rising tensions in the occupied West Bank following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

Rising violence and casualties

Since October 2023, at least 1,113 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank, mostly by Israeli soldiers, according to an AFP count. The UN has recorded 37 of these deaths as resulting from settler attacks. At least 49 Israelis have also been killed during the same period, in both Palestinian attacks and Israeli military operations.

Elections and security focus

Israeli forces are on high alert as the country approaches legislative elections, in which Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to secure his political future. Netanyahu and his allies are emphasizing security issues in their campaign, while his main rival, former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, praised the soldiers for preventing a potential major attack.