Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to prepare for a "very extensive" operation in the occupied West Bank following a deadly exchange of fire in Hebron. Two Israeli soldiers and two Palestinians died during the gunfight near a checkpoint on Friday.
The Israeli military thwarted a terror attack by two armed Palestinians who opened fire on soldiers at a temporary checkpoint outside Hebron. Lasting more than 20 minutes, the clash left five Israelis wounded, two of whom later died from their injuries.
Netanyahu visited Hebron and held an emergency meeting with his security cabinet and top military and security officials. The Prime Minister stated that Hamas was "planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians."
Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces would enter the attackers' neighbourhood to displace residents and apply a model previously used in northern West Bank refugee camps. He said, "We will evacuate the residents, we will go from house to house, we will also seize the weapons there, and all the terrorist infrastructure will be dealt with and destroyed."
Security forces received instructions from Netanyahu's office to immediately cordon off Hebron and prepare for a full closure of the West Bank starting Friday. This lockdown marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has imposed restrictions across the West Bank.
The planned operation follows the "Iron Wall" launched in January 2025, which forcibly displaced tens of thousands of people across several refugee camps. Bezalel Smotrich called for a military campaign in the West Bank "exactly like in Gaza."
Smotrich said, "There is no other option but a comprehensive military campaign to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, collect weapons and eliminate terrorists. Exactly like in Gaza and Lebanon." More than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the territory, where settlers attacked villages and diplomats in October.
