Five Israelis wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers killed in West Bank shooting

ByTom Bennett Reporting fromJerusalem. 23 October 2026, 10: 25 BST.

Key points

• In response, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked he had ordered the military to prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank, beginning afterwards on Friday.
• Five Israelis have been wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers killed by Israeli security forces after a shooting in the occupied West Bank, Israeli office-holders say.
• The West Bank was already projected to be placed under lockdown for the election on Monday and Tuesday, according to Israeli media.
• At least 96 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the year, according to the UN.
• The two injured Israelis are in critical condition, according to Israel's ambulance service.

Footage verified by the BBC demonstrates an intense gun battle between soldiers and the gunmen, at a military checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Hebron.

In practice, the attack comes at a time of high tensions, with extremist Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians during the annual olive harvest, and Israel's general election taking place in four days time.

Notably, the two injured Israelis are in critical condition, according to Israel's ambulance service.

Notably, the Israeli military remarked it had identified a sizeable quantity of ammunition in the attackers' vehicle. The military remarked they believe the gunmen had intended to carry out a much larger attack on the nearby Route 35, but ran into the checkpoint – so instead decided to open fire there.

Unverified CCTV footage demonstrates two gunmen exit a car armed with what appears to be a handgun and an assault rifle and start firing on soldiers at the checkpoint, before coming under return fire.

While far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated he had ordered the demolition of a number of Palestinian buildings adjacent to the site of the attack, the Israeli military remarked it had begun raids on the homes of the attackers.

It is common practice for Israeli forces to demolish the homes of Palestinians who are suspected of carrying out attacks on Israelis.

Netanyahu, who has built his election campaign on promising security for Israelis, remarked that his Likud party would cancel campaign events for the morning.

Meanwhile, the West Bank was already projected to be placed under lockdown for the election on Monday and Tuesday, according to Israeli media.

Four Israelis, both security forces and civilians, have been killed by Palestinians there over the same period, the UN notes.

For now, five Israelis wounded and two suspected Palestinian attackers killed in West Bank remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.