Israel orders West Bank lockdown after Hebron shooting attack

Key Points:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the West Bank following an Israeli military operation that killed two Palestinians accused of a shooting attack near Hebron, injuring five people.
• The lockdown and increased military presence come days before Israel’s crucial election, which is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership amid heightened security concerns following the Hamas-led attacks in October 2023.
• Netanyahu blamed Hamas for planning a major attack and praised Israeli soldiers for thwarting the recent shooting, while far-right Israeli ministers called for dismantling the Palestinian Authority and launching a comprehensive military campaign in the West Bank.
• The West Bank has experienced a surge in settler violence and military activity, especially during the olive harvesting season, with numerous attacks on Palestinians, activists, and American nationals; the UN reported at least 160 settler attacks in early October, some involving Israeli forces.
• Despite international condemnation, Netanyahu’s government continues to support settler expansion in the West Bank, with growing concerns from global officials who increasingly describe settler violence as terrorism.