Breaking: Israel orders closure of West Bank following attack

Israel has ordered its soldiers to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank following a deadly shooting in the occupied territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said security forces had been instructed to cordon off the city of Hebron immediately.

Mr Netanyahu, who is running for another term in elections on Tuesday, has called for all political meetings to be cancelled due to the attack.

"I salute the courage of our soldiers who acted with determination and prevented what could have been a major attack," he said in a statement.

"I have instructed the IDF and security forces to impose an immediate cordon on the city of Hebron and to prepare for a full lockdown of all of Judea and Samaria starting today."

The orders were issued after Israeli soldiers shot and killed two men the military accused of launching an attack near Hebron. At least five people were injured, some critically.

The army said it prevented a "terror attack against Israeli civilians" and that the men were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. It did not elaborate on the target of the alleged attack.

There was also no word on the identities of the two dead and those injured.

Two men in their 20s sustained gunshot wounds to their lower limbs. One was unconscious and seriously injured, the responders said.

"We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area," emergency response team member Tzuriel Edri said.

Hamas praises shooting

There is no evidence to suggest the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian government in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was connected to the attack.

Hamas, which is based in Gaza described Friday's incident an "exceptional heroic operation" and mourned the two dead assailants. It did not claim responsibility.