In brief
Israeli security forces stopped a harrowing gunfire exchange at the entrance to Hebron, leaving five Israeli soldiers wounded and killing two suspected Palestinian attackers. Unverified footage shows soldiers confronting gunmen at a military checkpoint, where a large cache of ammunition was found. The incident occurred during escalating tensions over settler attacks on Palestinians and just days before Israel’s general election, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order a West Bank lockdown in advance of campaign events.
Five Israelis have been wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers killed by Israeli security forces following a shooting in the occupied West Bank, Israeli officials say.
Unverified footage shared on social media shows an intense gun battle between soldiers and the gunmen at a military checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Hebron.
The attack comes at a time of high tensions in the West Bank, with extremist Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians during the annual olive harvest, and Israel's general election taking place in four days time.
The Israeli military said it had found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. They believe the gunmen intended to carry out a much larger attack on the nearby Route 35, but unexpectedly ran into the checkpoint and opened fire there instead.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has built his election campaign on promising security, said he had instructed the military to prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank, beginning later on Friday. The West Bank was already expected to be placed under lockdown for the election on Monday and Tuesday, according to Israeli media.
Netanyahu added that his Likud party would cancel campaign events for the morning.
