Nahost: Israel will Westjordanland nach Angriff abriegeln

Following a deadly attack in the West Bank with two soldiers killed shortly before Israel's parliamentary election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly indicated a possible closure of the Palestinian territory. According to a statement from his office, Israeli security forces have been instructed to prepare for the closure of the entire West Bank throughout the course of the day.

All crossings to the Palestinian territory are expected to be closed. After a security briefing involving Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Netanyahu had already ordered the closure of the city of Hebron. The announcement came in the wake of a gun attack near Hebron in the early hours of the morning. Two soldiers were reported killed, and three others were wounded.

Two suspected Palestinian assailants from Hebron were killed by the security forces, preventing a "serious attack," Netanyahu reportedly said. Israeli security forces are now conducting "extensive arrest sweeps," netting numerous potential suspects. Hamas praised the attack but did not claim responsibility explicitly. Israeli President Izchak Herzog called it an "abhorrent terrorist attack" and said soldiers had prevented "a large-scale assault and a much larger tragedy."

Netanyahu stated that Israeli military would enter the neighborhoods of the attackers in Hebron, search houses and destroy terrorist infrastructure. Palestinians must leave the areas, similar to a large-scale offensive against militant Palestinians in northern West Bank regions earlier in the year that resulted in numerous casualties and mass displacement.

The United Nations and European Union criticized the move. The West Bank has seen recurring attacks on Israelis in the past. Palestinian media reported that several members of the suspected attackers were arrested during a raid by Israeli security forces, using force against them. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, home to around 700,000 Israeli settlers among three million Palestinians, have seen a rise in violence against Palestinians since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023.

Israel's military is often accused of not being aggressive enough against such attacks or even collaborating with the settlers. Observers warn of a potential new Palestinian uprising due to settler violence. A West Bank lockdown ahead of the election is not unusual, as Israel frequently imposes such measures during major Jewish holidays, like the Sukkot festival in late September.

Travel restrictions for Palestinians, including those living in East Jerusalem, would apply if the crossings are closed, despite being granted prior authorization.