Five Israelis wounded in West Bank shooting near Hebron: Two Palestinian assailants killed

Five Israelis were wounded, two critically, in a shooting attack near Hebron in the West Bank on Friday morning. The IDF said it killed the two Palestinians assailants after a brief manhunt. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed the IDF "to immediately impose a lockdown on Hebron and prepare for a full lockdown of the entire West Bank," starting Friday. The IDF said that Israeli forces in the West Bank have launched raids on the Hebron area, with a full siege being imposed on the city and other nearby villages. Troops are currently operating in the homes of the assailants and other suspects, the army added. Hebron is the largest Palestinian city in the West Bank as of 2025, with approximately 250,000 residents, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. Hamas praised the attack in a statement issued Friday. The assailants were identified as Firas and Hamouda al-Jaaba, residents of Hebron. According to the Israeli military, the assailants who perpetrated Friday's attack were armed with an M4 rifle and a handgun. Israel Police said they began collecting witness statements and gathering evidence at the scene. Close One of two armed Palestinian men walks with an assault rifle during a fire exchange with Israeli forces at the northern checkpoint of Hebron in the West Bank on Friday. Credit: Hazem Bader/AFP One of two armed Palestinian men walks with an assault rifle during a fire exchange with Israeli forces at the northern checkpoint of Hebron in the West Bank on Friday. Credit: Hazem Bader/AFP As the IDF launched raids in Hebron and nearby villages, the Red Crescent said a Palestinian man was shot in the Palestinian city of Dura and was being treated for his wounds. Footage shows IDF forces near the scene. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said during a situational assessment that a large quantity of ammunition was found in the vehicle used by the assailants, which he said was intended for a larger-scale attack. "The troops' swift action prevented an even more serious attack and further casualties among civilians and security forces," he said. Zamir also instructed the military to prepare to deploy additional forces to the West Bank as needed. According to an Israeli security source, the assailants arrived at the junction where the incident occurred in a car with Israeli license plates and opened fire in an exchange that lasted a prolonged period. IDF sources believe the two assailants planned to drive further into Israeli territory from the West Bank, but were stopped at an Israeli checkpoint. The director general of Magen David Adom emergency service, Eli Bin, said the victims sustained severe gunshot wounds and were treated by emergency responders and military forces operating at the scene. The wounded were evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadasa Hospital in Jerusalem. According to Hadasa Hospital, the wounded arrived with minor shrapnel injuries. Close Israeli soldiers and emergency personnel gather near ambulances following a shooting attack near Hebron, in the West Bank, Friday. Credit: Mahmoud Illean/AP Israeli soldiers and emergency personnel gather near ambulances following a shooting attack near Hebron, in the West Bank, Friday. Credit: Mahmoud Illean/AP In a video filmed during the attack, a witness can be heard saying that "an exchange of fire between the terrorist and our forces is ongoing, and still haven't managed to evacuate the wounded," adding that the active shooting continued for more than 20 minutes. IDF sources also said the military will inspect the swift arrival of an AFP photographer to the scene, who recorded the shoot-out. The scene of the shooting, near Hebron, Friday. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party said he ordered the demolition of several illegally constructed Palestinian buildings near the location of the attack, in a retaliatory move set to take effect throughout Friday. Close Footage from the scene of the shooting, Friday. Credit: Hazem Bader/AFP Footage from the scene of the shooting, Friday. Credit: Hazem Bader/AFP IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said on Monday that Israeli soldiers will not be allowed to go on leave beginning on Thursday as the Israeli army prepares for the run-up to parliamentary elections on October 27. Zamir said that the IDF's mission is to enable the elections to take place on time and safely, according to a statement released by the IDF Spokesman's Office. The troop presence in the area covered by the IDF's West Bank Command will be reinforced due to general tensions and concern regarding violence related to the elections, it was noted. Close IDF forces at the scene, Friday. Credit: IDF Spokesperson unit IDF forces at the scene, Friday. Credit: IDF Spokesperson unit On Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel's opposition leaders would bear responsibility for any future attack on the country, accusing them of undermining national deterrence by criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's warnings of a potential attack around Election Day. 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