In response to a recent shooting near Hebron, Israel has enacted a total closure of the occupied West Bank, citing rising security concerns as the Israeli elections approach.
Emergency responders said they reached the scene near Yehuda junction while gunfire was still being reported.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said security forces had been instructed to immediately seal off Hebron and make arrangements to shut down the entire west bank from Friday, according to news agency AP. The two men were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun, according to the army. The military said its forces had prevented an attack targeting Israeli civilians but did not disclose the alleged target or identify the deceased and injured individuals. Two men in their 20s sustained gunshot wounds to their lower limbs, while another person was unconscious and seriously injured, according to the emergency services. “We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area,” said Tzuriel Edri, a member of the emergency response team. Authorities said an investigation into the incident was underway.
The injured were evacuated to hospitals in Israel for treatment.
Attack raises security concerns ahead of Israeli election
The Israeli government has warned of possible attacks by what it described as the country’s “enemies” in the run-up to the vote. The shooting comes days before Israeli voters are scheduled to cast their ballots next Tuesday in an election that could determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu secures another term as prime minister or the country enters a new political phase.