Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has initiated preparations for a military operation in the West Bank
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered preparations for a sweeping military operation across the occupied West Bank after a shooting near Hebron killed two Israeli soldiers, raising fears of further escalation and widespread restrictions on Palestinian movement just days before Israel's October 27 election.According to The Guardian, Netanyahu ordered security forces to impose a cordon around Hebron and prepare for a wider lockdown of the West Bank following the attack on October 23.The Israeli military said the two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on soldiers at a temporary checkpoint outside Hebron after failing to reach a nearby highway, where they were suspected of planning an attack on civilians.According to a preliminary military investigation, the ensuing gunfight lasted more than 20 minutes and left five Israelis wounded, two of whom later died.
Israeli forces subsequently shot and killed both gunmen.Following an emergency meeting with his security cabinet and senior military officials, Netanyahu said Israeli forces would enter the neighbourhood where the attackers lived, evacuate residents and conduct house-to-house searches to seize weapons and dismantle what Israel describes as militant infrastructure.He compared the planned operation with Israel's 2025 military offensive in northern West Bank refugee camps, which displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians, according to the UN human rights office.
Israeli forces also began tightening restrictions across the occupied West Bank, with checkpoints and road gates limiting movement between Palestinian towns and villages.The Guardian reported that the closure was the fourth territory-wide restriction imposed by Israel in a month. The measures could disrupt daily life for Palestinians, while roads remained accessible to Israeli drivers, including settlers.The escalation comes just days before Israel's October 27 election, putting security and Netanyahu's handling of Palestinian attacks at the centre of the political debate.Netanyahu can use the response to reinforce his image as a leader who takes a hard line on security, while pressure from far-right coalition partners for a broader offensive adds to calls for tougher action against Palestinians.Reuters reported that opinion polls showed Netanyahu's right-wing coalition at risk of losing its parliamentary majority, with former military chief Gadi Eisenkot emerging as a leading challenger.The October 27 vote is the first Israeli national election since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and the subsequent wars that reshaped the country's security debate.The latest escalation in the West Bank could further intensify the campaign's focus on national security, although Netanyahu's political future will also depend on coalition negotiations after the vote.