Five Israelis have been wounded in a shooting attack in the southern West Bank, with two reported to be in critical condition, as Israeli troops engaged the assailants in a prolonged gun battle that left both Palestinian gunmen dead.
According to Israeli emergency responders, the other three victims sustained light to moderate injuries following the attack at the Judea Junction along Route 35, near Hebron, on Friday, October 23, 2026.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops returned fire during the confrontation, killing the two gunmen at the scene.
Footage from the incident showed an intense exchange of gunfire that reportedly lasted more than 20 minutes, complicating efforts by emergency personnel to evacuate the wounded.
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Another recording captured a medic saying the wounded had yet to be evacuated because the area remained under active fire.
The military identified the personnel involved as soldiers from the Home Front Command’s Ari Battalion, who were deployed to the area and engaged the attackers.
According to the IDF, the gunmen were armed with an M16 assault rifle and a pistol.
Following the shooting, Israeli forces imposed closures on several Palestinian towns in the surrounding area, including a complete closure of Hebron, as security operations continued.
Photographs published online appeared to show one of the Palestinian gunmen during the exchange of fire with Israeli troops.
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