Five Israelis were wounded, two critically, in a shooting attack near Hebron in the West Bank, medics said. After a brief manhunt, the IDF said it killed two Palestinians suspected of perpetrating the attack.
The IDF imposed a lockdown on the city of Hebron and several villages in the area.
According to the military, the assailants were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. Israel Police said they began collecting witness statements and gathering evidence at the scene. Hamas praised the attack in a statement issued Friday.
According to a security source, the assailants arrived at the junction where the incident occurred in a car with Israeli license plates and opened fire in an exchange that lasted a prolonged period.
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One of two armed Palestinian men walks with an assault rifle during a fire exchange with Israeli forces at the northern checkpoint of Hebron in the West Bank on Friday. Credit: Hazem Bader/AFP
One of two armed Palestinian men walks with an assault rifle during a fire exchange with Israeli forces at the northern checkpoint of Hebron in the West Bank on Friday. Credit: Hazem Bader/AFP
The director general of Magen David Adom emergency service, Eli Bin, said the victims sustained severe gunshot wounds and were treated by emergency responders and military forces operating at the scene.
The wounded were evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadasa Hospital in Jerusalem. According to Hadasa Hospital, the wounded arrived with minor shrapnel injuries.
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Israeli soldiers and emergency personnel gather near ambulances following a shooting attack near Hebron, in the West Bank, Friday. Credit: Mahmoud Illean/AP
Israeli soldiers and emergency personnel gather near ambulances following a shooting attack near Hebron, in the West Bank, Friday. Credit: Mahmoud Illean/AP
In a video filmed during the attack, a witness can be heard saying that “an exchange of fire between the terrorist and our forces is ongoing, and still haven’t managed to evacuate the wounded,” adding that the active shooting continued for more than 20 minutes.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF “to immediately impose a lockdown on Hebron and prepare for a full lockdown of the entire West Bank,” starting Friday. The prime minister concluded a situational assessment with the defense minister, the IDF chief of staff, the Shin Bet chief, the national security adviser and the head of Central Command.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said during a situational assessment that a large quantity of ammunition was found in the vehicle used by the assailants, which he said was intended for a larger-scale attack.
“The troops’ swift action prevented an even more serious attack and further casualties among civilians and security forces,” he said.
Zamir also instructed the military to prepare to deploy additional forces to the Central Command as needed and based on operational requirements.
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IDF forces at the scene, Friday. Credit: IDF Spokesperson unit
IDF forces at the scene, Friday. Credit: IDF Spokesperson unit
Zamir said on Monday that Israeli soldiers will not be allowed to go on leave beginning on Thursday as the Israeli army prepares for the run-up to parliamentary elections on October 27.
Zamir said that the IDF’s mission is to enable the elections to take place on time and safely, according to a statement released by the IDF Spokesman’s Office. The troop presence in the area covered by the IDF’s West Bank Command will be reinforced due to general tensions and concern regarding violence related to the elections, it was noted.
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