Israel Launches Hebron Crackdown After Gunmen Kill 2 Soldiers

2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 24

Israeli troops sealed Hebron overnight with roadblocks and closed the city’s main entrances and exits after two Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers near a checkpoint.
The military said the operation would last several days, with forces demolishing structures near the attack site and allowing residents to leave only through designated checkpoints.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed a broad West Bank retaliation on Friday, including a security cordon around Hebron, a territory-wide lockdown and home searches.
The attackers were shot dead at the scene, and the military said a vehicle they used contained a large cache of ammunition, which the army said pointed to a potentially larger assault.
The crackdown deepens West Bank violence days before Israel’s first election since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks, with Netanyahu trailing rival Gadi Eisenkot in polls.