Israel Prepares Full West Bank Closure

Israeli forces killed two Palestinian men in a gunfight near a checkpoint outside Hebron on Friday after an alleged attack wounded at least five people, some critically. Israel said the men were armed and that troops had thwarted an attack on civilians, but authorities had not publicly detailed the intended target. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Hebron cordoned off and directed the military to prepare for a full closure of the occupied West Bank, while roadblocks and restrictions were imposed in nearby Palestinian communities. The escalation comes days before Israel’s election, in which Netanyahu’s security record is a central issue.