Shooting Terror Attack in West Bank Four Days Before Israeli General Election; Netanyahu Orders West Bank Lockdown

A Palestinian gunman opened fire in the southern West Bank, leaving multiple people injured, just four days ahead of Israel's general election scheduled for the 27th.

With disruptions to the final political schedules, including the closing campaigns of various political parties, becoming inevitable, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a lockdown across the entire West Bank during the election period.

According to local media such as The Times of Israel on the 23rd (local time), two Palestinian men opened fire early this morning at a Jewish intersection near Hebron in the southern West Bank.

A photo published by AFP showed a man armed with a rifle and a pistol loading live ammunition or engaging in a gunfight with soldiers.

CCTV footage released by authorities showed the two men parking and waiting in a car on a road next to a gas station before stepping out of the vehicle and opening fire toward a temporary checkpoint where vehicles were waiting.

In addition, footage released by rescue services showed a body in casual clothes collapsed on the ground next to the gas station, with Israeli soldiers patrolling while maintaining security around the area.

The Israel Defense Forces stated that they immediately deployed troops and shot dead the two suspects at the scene after a gunfight lasting about 20 minutes.

The killed suspects were identified as 27-year-old Palestinian residents Mohammad Jabare and Firas Jabare , who were reportedly relatives.

Furthermore, the Israeli military dispatched troops to search the suspects' homes and plans to demolish their houses in accordance with regulations.

According to the emergency medical service Magen David Adom, five people were injured in the shooting, two of whom are in critical condition, including a man in his 20s who suffered gunshot wounds to his lower body.

This bloodshed occurred four days before a general election that will determine whether Prime Minister Netanyahu secures another term and marks the opening of a new era in Israeli politics.

Held three years after Hamas's surprise attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, the upcoming election is drawing intense global attention amid unstable Middle East security conditions, including the war with Iran.

The shooting rampage, taking place with the general election imminent, is expected to disrupt the final stretch of the election campaign.

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▲ Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir speaking at the scene of the shooting attack

Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the right-wing Likud party, which he leads, to cancel political events such as final election rallies.

Netanyahu also stated that he held a situation assessment meeting with security chiefs and issued instructions to prepare for immediate control over Hebron and a full lockdown across the entire West Bank.

Accordingly, the West Bank and Gaza Strip are scheduled to be locked down for two days: the 26th, the day before the general election, and the 27th, the day of the election.

Netanyahu emphasized, "Our military is carrying out intensive operations to deter terrorism and deploying widespread arrest operations," adding, "We will track down Hamas terrorists and those behind them anywhere and at any time until the end."

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister in charge of public security and a prominent far-right figure within Netanyahu's coalition, called for the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority (PA) at the scene of the incident.

He argued, "We must take action before it is too late," and "We must dismantle and disarm the Palestinian Authority and completely uproot their terrorist infrastructure."

No immediate signs of the Palestinian Authority's involvement in this attack have been confirmed.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.