Netanyahu blocks off West Bank travel after five wounded in terror shooting

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the city of Hebron to be cordoned off and for the entire West Bank to be blocked from entry and exit starting on Friday morning, after five people were wounded in a terror attack in the area."I have instructed the IDF and security forces to immediately impose a closure on the city of Hebron and prepare for a full lockdown of all of Judea and Samaria, beginning today," he said, adding that the IDF would be carrying out extensive waves of arrests.""We will pursue Hamas terrorists and those who send them, wherever they are and at any time," Netanyahu said. "You have nowhere to hide."The military had announced earlier that morning that two terrorists involved in the attack had been killed. A manhunt for potential additional terrorists is still ongoing.תיעוד: חילופי אש בין כוחות צה"ל למחבלים שביצעו את הפיגוע סמוך לצומת יהודה @HGoldich https://t.co/pJlwXd1pa5— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) October 23, 2026Magen David Adom said that five people had been wounded in the attack, with two in critical condition, one moderate, and two mild. The mildly and moderately wounded people were evacuated to the hospital.Reportedly, the terrorists planned to carry out a larger attack on civilians, but were prevented from doing so thanks to the IDF units on the ground."This was a serious attack. The soldiers' swift actions prevented an even more serious attack and further harm to civilians and security forces. A large quantity of ammunition was found in the vehicle used by the terrorists to reach the scene of the attack, which was intended to be used to carry out an attack on a larger scale," IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said in a statement. After the attack, the city of Hebron was placed under lockdown, and several surrounding villages were closed, the IDF said. The military also later blocked Highway 35 in both directions.According to Army Radio, both terrorists, Hamouda and Firas Jua'ba, were from the same family in Hebron, both aged 27, and both married with two children each.In a video recorded at the scene, a soldier can be heard saying that the terrorists had been actively shooting for over 20 minutes."The terrorist keeps shooting. There are still exchanges of fire with that son of a b***h terrorist. Our forces still haven't managed to get the wounded out," the person said in the video. "The terrorist has been shooting for more than 20 minutes now."During the attack, several people used an armored ambulance that was nearby the scene for cover from the fire."Open the door, quickly!" one person at the scene shouted as the wounded were being evacuated."It's open," the paramedic replied."Get them in quickly (the wounded); we're getting out of here, come on! 442, get a paramedic out here now! Get him in quickly, get him in quickly!"At least five wounded in terror attack near HebronThe two critically wounded people are receiving medical care, MDA said in a statement.We brought a man in his 20s into the ambulance. He was unconscious, suffering from gunshot wounds, and in extremely serious condition. We provided him with medical treatment," said MDA emergency medical technician Zuriel Edri."We evacuated additional wounded people to MDA ambulances that had arrived at the scene and immediately began transporting them to hospitals. Another person in extremely serious condition was treated by IDF medical personnel in a mobile intensive care unit."Walla reported that the attack had apparently targeted a reservists' battalion and had likely used the weather conditions to approach the checkpoint unnoticed.One possibility reportedly under investigation is that the terrorists set an ambush for the soldiers, shot at them, and then attempted to escape.Netanyahu cancels Likud events in the wake of terror attackAfter the attack, Netanyahu announced that Likud events which had been scheduled for Friday morning would be canceled.National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority in the wake of the terror attack."The severe attack that has just taken place serves as a bloody, harsh, and painful reminder of the price of the conception," he wrote. "We must not wait for an October 7 in Judea and Samaria. The next conflict will erupt there; we must act before it is too late. The Palestinian Authority must be dismantled, disarmed, and its terror infrastructure completely eradicated. The blood of our soldiers is not up for grabs."Ben-Gvir also arrived on the scene, where he said that he did not want the road barriers and cordons to be removed in order for the locals to be able to return to their normal lives."As long as there's terror, they should not be able to live as normal," he insisted."When I said, two or three years ago, that the freedom of movement for residents of the area was less important than the right of Jews to live, more than a few people rose up against me," he added.בוקר קשה. מתפללים לרפואתם של הפצועים. אירוע שממחיש שוב את מה שאני אומר כבר ארבע שנים בקבינט. צריך לפרק את הדבר הזה שנקרא הרשות הפלסטינית. לא יכול להיות מצב שבתוך יהודה ושומרון תהיה לנו מדינת טרור. צריך לפרק אותם, צריך להפסיק את התנועה, את הצירים המשותפים כאן של יהודים ותושבי הרשות. חופש התנועה של תושבי הרשות פחות חשוב מהזכות שלנו לחיות. וכמו שאמרתי ואני אומר את זה בצורה הכי חד משמעית: לפרק את הרשות הפלסטינית, לפרק אותם! אי אפשר שתהיה רשות טרור לצד מדינת ישראל.— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) October 23, 2026Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, also reacted to the terror attack on X/Twitter, praying for the recovery of the victims and praising the IDF soldiers for their heroism and courage.Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Liberman said that it was a difficult morning for Israel."How many more attacks do we need to absorb to understand that we cannot continue with the policy of containment?" He said.בוקר קשה לעם ישראל. עוד פיגוע ירי ביהודה ושומרון. כמה עוד פיגועים צריך לספוג כדי להבין שאי אפשר להמשיך במדיניות ההכלה? טרור מחסלים, לא מכילים! אני מאחל החלמה מהירה לפצועים.— אביגדור ליברמן (@AvigdorLiberman) October 23, 2026"Terror is eliminated, not contained!"