Five Israelis wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers killed in West Bank shooting
Five Israelis wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers killed in West Bank shooting Image caption, The attack happened at a military checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Hebron Published 23 October 2026, 10:25 BST Five Israelis have been wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers killed by Israeli security forces following a shooting in the occupied West Bank, Israeli officials say. Unverified footage shared on social media shows an intense gun battle between soldiers and the gunmen, at a military checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Hebron.
The attack comes at a time of high tensions in the West Bank, with extremist Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians during the annual olive harvest, and Israel's general election taking place in four days time. The Israeli military said it had found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. The military said they believe the gunmen had intended to carry out a much larger attack on the nearby Route 35, but unexpectedly ran into the checkpoint - so instead decided to open fire there.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has built his election campaign on promising security, said he had instructed the military to prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank, beginning later on Friday. The West Bank was already expected to be placed under lockdown for the election on Monday and Tuesday, according to Israeli media. Netanyahu added that his Likud party would cancel campaign events for the morning. Related topics West Bank Israel Israel & the Palestinians More on this story
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The BBC reports only that Netanyahu told the military to prepare for a full West Bank lockdown later on Friday. Haaretz, publishing hours earlier, reported three things the BBC leaves out. Netanyahu ordered an immediate lockdown on Hebron, a city of about 250,000 people. Israeli occupation forces imposed a full siege on Hebron and nearby villages and launched raids, and a Palestinian man was shot in Dura. Smotrich ordered the demolition of Palestinian buildings near the site as a retaliatory move. Without these facts a reader believes the response to the shooting was a lockdown still being planned. In fact a whole Palestinian city was already under siege and facing reprisal demolitions.
How we know
- Haaretz (English) reported“to immediately impose a lockdown on Hebron and prepare for a full lockdown of the entire West Bank”Five Israelis wounded in West Bank shooting near Hebron: Two Palestinian assailants killed (opens in a new tab)
- Haaretz (English) reported“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”Five Israelis wounded in West Bank shooting near Hebron: Two Palestinian assailants killed (opens in a new tab)
- Haaretz (English) reported“he ordered the demolition of several illegally constructed Palestinian buildings near the location of the attack, in a retaliatory move”Five Israelis wounded in West Bank shooting near Hebron: Two Palestinian assailants killed (opens in a new tab)