Two Israeli soldiers were killed and three other people were wounded in a shooting attack Friday in the southern West Bank, where Israeli forces then killed two suspected gunmen. The incident occurred near Judea Junction.
The slain soldiers were identified as Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, from Ashkelon, and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, from Hod Hasharon. Both were serving in the Ari Battalion of the Search and Rescue Brigade.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that its forces responded to the shooting and killed two individuals identified as "terrorists." The suspects, described as Palestinians from Hebron, were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun, according to the IDF.
Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet. Netanyahu stated that Hamas was "planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians" and announced that a large-scale operation in the West Bank was to begin soon. The army ordered a full closure of the West Bank.
During security operations across the West Bank on Friday, Israeli forces apprehended dozens of individuals, including those Israeli officials claimed were members of Hamas and affiliated with Islamic Jihad. The army's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, reported that a significant quantity of ammunition was found in a vehicle used by the perpetrators, suggesting it was intended for a larger-scale attack.