Israel orders closure of West Bank after soldiers kill 2 : NPR

Key Points:

• Israeli soldiers shot and killed two men who allegedly launched an attack near Hebron in the West Bank, injuring at least five people, some critically, according to the military.
• The Israeli army prevented what it described as a "terror attack against Israeli civilians," with the attackers reportedly armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun; the identities of those involved remain undisclosed.
• Following the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full closure of the West Bank and an immediate cordon around Hebron, amid heightened security concerns ahead of upcoming elections.
• Netanyahu held an emergency Security Cabinet meeting, blaming Hamas for planning a major attack to influence the election, while far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for stricter restrictions on Palestinian movement in the West Bank.
• Israeli forces conducted multiple operations across the West Bank, arresting individuals linked to militant groups and seizing weapons, as closures and movement restrictions in the territory increase ahead of the election.