Palestinian gunmen opened fire on Israelis in the West Bank on Friday, wounding five people, including two in critical condition, according to Israeli ambulance service Magen David Adom. The Israeli military reported killing two assailants during the clash near Hebron. Hours later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to cordon off Hebron and prepare for a territory-wide lockdown starting Friday, citing extensive arrests and offensive counterterrorism operations.
The violence underscores a broader uptick in clashes since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks and the war in Gaza. Israeli forces have conducted sweeping raids to root out Palestinian armed groups, displacing tens of thousands. Palestinian gunmen have conducted shootings and stabbings, while extremist settlers have attacked Palestinians, forcing communities to flee.
Hamas praised the attack as a "heroic operation" but did not claim credit, calling on Palestinians to shoot "bullets at the chest of the occupiers." Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing