Five Israelis wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers killed in West Bank shooting

Five Israelis sustained injuries and two suspected Palestinian assailants were killed by Israeli security forces during a shooting incident at a military checkpoint near the city of Hebron in the West Bank, according to Israeli officials. Unverified footage circulating on social media depicts a fierce gunfight between the soldiers and the gunmen.

The attack occurs amidst heightened tensions in the West Bank, where extremist Jewish settlers have been targeting Palestinians during the annual olive harvest, and with Israel's general election scheduled in just four days.

The Israeli military reported discovering a substantial amount of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. They surmise that the gunmen had planned a more extensive assault on the nearby Route 35 but, upon encountering the checkpoint, opted to open fire instead. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has made security a centerpiece of his election campaign, has directed the military to prepare for a comprehensive lockdown of the West Bank, scheduled to commence later on Friday.

The West Bank was already anticipated to enter a lockdown for the election on Monday and Tuesday, as per Israeli media reports.

Netanyahu further announced that his Likud party would postpone all campaign events for the morning.