Israel tells troops to prepare for full closure of West Bank after two soldiers killed in attack

Play Brightcove video ITV News Correspondent Rachel Younger reports from Tel Aviv during a very tense time for the region, amid a wave of settler violence in the West Bank and an attack by Palestinian gunmen Israel begun demolishing buildings and forcing residents to evacuate a neighbourhood in the occupied West Bank after two Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint on Friday. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said after the attack that it is imposing “a full siege” on the city of Hebron, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office told armed forces to be ready to impose a full closure of the West Bank. Three more soldiers were lightly wounded in the attack in Hebron, the IDF said, adding that its troops had killed the two gunmen and had prevented a “terror attack” against Israeli civilians. The attack came just four days before Israel holds elections for the first time since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, in a crucial test for Netanyahu, who has sought to portray himself as a security hardliner. Israeli soldiers and emergency personnel at the scene of the shooting. Credit: AP In a statement Netanyahu said the military would forcefully evacuate the area of the attack and “transform it completely,” employing the plan used in the Jenin, Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and Al-Far’a refugee camps in early 2025. This strategy led to the displacement of thousands of Palestinians and the evacuation of entire neighbourhoods. By Friday afternoon, Israeli forces had started demolitions in the Farsh al-Hawa area of Hebron. In video obtained by ITV News' North American partner CNN, an Israeli soldier tells residents of a housing complex: “You have five minutes to evacuate.” “That is exactly what we will do here, in a neighbourhood in Hebron from which the terrorists came,” Netanyahu said. “We will evacuate the residents, go house to house, remove weapons found there, and address and destroy all terrorist infrastructure.” Israeli armoured vehicles are seen parked outside a Palestinian-owned building in the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya on Friday. Credit: AP Forces continued searches across the area for anyone else who may be connected to the attack. Videos from the scene depict a firefight between the Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces that lasted at least several minutes with repeated bursts of gunfire ringing out. The IDF said it located a vehicle used by the gunmen to carry out the attack, which was filled with “a large quantity” of ammunition. “This was a serious terror attack,” said IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir following a situation assessment. “The fighters’ rapid action prevented an even more serious attack and further harm to civilians and security forces.” Aid workers trapped in besieged Yemeni city fear they won't see families again Woman searching for remains of father beheaded by Isis receives unexpected lead He said the ammunition in the car was intended to be used “to carry out an attack on a much larger scale”. Zamir said the IDF would also carry out further arrests of suspects and increase intelligence operations in the area. “We will pursue Hamas terrorists and those who sent them, wherever they are and at all times,” Netanyahu said in a statement. Hamas praised the attack in a statement but did not claim responsibility. “Together with all the people of Israel, I pray for the full and speedy recovery of those wounded in the attack,” said Netanyahu’s main rival, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, said in a statement on X. Subscribe for free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…