Six Wounded in West Bank Shooting Attack; Two Gunmen Killed
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on Israelis at the Yehuda Junction on Route 35 near Hebron on Friday, wounding six people. Security forces returned fire, killing both attackers. The incident occurred days before elections, with the Defense Minister having warned of potential attacks. The IDF has increased its alert level and reinforced troops in the area.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Two gunmen killed six Israelis in a shooting attack on Route 35 near Hebron.
- The attack occurred days before Israeli elections, amid warnings of potential violence.
- IDF forces neutralized the two attackers after returning fire.
- The IDF has raised its alert level and reinforced troops in the West Bank.
- The incident is being compared to a similar attack before the previous election.
A severe shooting attack occurred Friday morning on Route 35 near Hebron, in the West Bank, when armed assailants opened fire on Israelis at the Yehuda Junction. Magen David Adom and IDF medical teams treated five victims: two in critical condition, one moderate, and two light. They were evacuated to Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem hospitals. Shaare Zedek reported its moderate patients were conscious and stable. Security forces at the scene returned fire, neutralizing both attackers after a brief pursuit. Following the incident, a lockdown was imposed on several nearby villages, and extensive checkpoints were established.
Ofer Ohana, a local medical professional, described the intense gunfire, stating, "The terrorist is shooting all the time. Exchange of fire continues, they can't get the wounded out! There's been active shooting for over 20 minutes!" The attack comes just days before election day, amidst a warning from Defense Minister Israel Katz about intelligence indicating hostile elements intended to carry out attacks during the election period to influence the results. High political tension has led to sharp accusations between the coalition and opposition.
In response, the IDF has raised its alert level to maximum. Following a multi-scenario assessment by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, a complete halt on all military personnel departures was ordered. The Central Command will be reinforced with paratrooper brigades and additional forces. The Chief of Staff emphasized the military's mission to ensure safe and timely democratic elections. This incident echoes a similar attack before the previous election, when a Hamas gunman killed one person and wounded four near Kiryat Arba just three days before the 2022 elections.
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