Israel preparing 'full closure' of West Bank, Netanyahu says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli government was preparing to close down the occupied West Bank after gunmen attacked Israeli soldiers on Friday morning. Netanyahu said Israeli military prevented a "major attack" after soldiers killed two gunmen in a firefight at a checkpoint near the West Bank city of Hebron. What do we know about the shooting in the West Bank? At least five people were wounded in the attack, several critically. "I commend our heroic fighters, who acted resolutely and prevented a major terrorist attack, and wish our wounded a speedy recovery," Netanyahu said in a statement. He added that he had instructed the military to "impose a cordon on the city of Hebron and to prepare for a full closure of the entire West Bank starting today." The Israeli operation comes a week before Israel heads into an election next week, the first since the October 7 Hamas attacks . Settler violence has been on the rise in the West Bank and dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the territory since the start of the year. How much power do Israeli settlers have over West Bank policy? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video What did the Israeli military say about the shooting in the West Bank? Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had prevented a "terror attack against Israeli civilians" and that the gunmen carried an M16 rifle and a handgun. The IDF did not say who the attack was targeting and gave no details on the two dead alleged attackers or those injured in the shooting. The military has set up roadblocks and closures in and around Palestinian towns in the area. FM Bezalel Smotrich calls for military action in West Bank 'exactly like in Gaza' The far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a military campaign in the West Bank, "exactly like in Gaza," in response to Friday's incident. "There is no other option but a comprehensive military campaign in Judea and Samaria to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, collect weapons and eliminate terrorists. Exactly like in Gaza and Lebanon," Smotrich said, using the Israeli term for the West Bank. He went on to say he had called for the demolition of buildings near the site of Friday's shooting. "Following the attack, I have ordered the immediate demolition of a wide row of illegal Arab structures adjacent to the attack site," he said. "The order will be carried out within the next hour and will take place throughout the afternoon hours." Smotrich, himself a settler in the West Bank, leads the Religious Zionism party. He is widely known for championing ultranationalist and inflammatory policies and has previously made similar calls for "war" in the West Bank. Israeli elections take place next week: What to know The Israeli election on October 27 is widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving prime minister, who has been criticized by opponents for failing to prevent the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Polls indicate that the elections will be a close race between the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs. Israel elections: Who is Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's challenger? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Despite international attention on Gaza and the West Bank, there is little difference between the two blocs regarding Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Just days ago, masked Israeli settlers attacked a group of European diplomats and journalists in the West Bank as they accompanied Palestinians for the start of the annual olive harvest. The IDF condemned the acts of violence and opened a rare investigation into the settlers. Both Israel's occupation and the settlements, which are dotted throughout the territory, are illegal under international law. Edited by: Alex Berry If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google , so you'll always see our verified news first.