HEBRON — Two Palestinians were fatally shot by the Israeli army on Friday morning following allegations that they had opened fire at Israeli settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron, wounding five people.Israel’s emergency medical service Magen David Adom stated that among those wounded, two are in critical condition.Unverified footage shared on social media shows an intense gun battle between soldiers and Palestinians at a military checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Hebron.The Israeli army has cordoned off Palestinian villages near Hebron, the Haaretz newspaper reported.The shooting comes at a time of high tensions in the West Bank as attacks by extremist Jewish settlers and the Israeli army against Palestinians and their land have intensified during the annual olive harvest season that began earlier this month and Israel’s general election taking place in four days.The Israeli military said it had found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers’ vehicle. The military said they believe the gunmen had intended to carry out a much larger attack on the nearby Route 35, but unexpectedly ran into the checkpoint.Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has built his election campaign on promising security, said he had instructed the military to prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank, beginning later on Friday. The West Bank was already expected to be placed under lockdown for the election on Monday and Tuesday, according to Israeli media.Netanyahu added that his Likud party would cancel campaign events for the morning.Palestinian figures indicate that around 750,000 Israeli settlers live illegally in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, across 194 settlements and approximately 400 outposts.Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land are considered illegal under international law.HEBRON — Two Palestinians were fatally shot by the Israeli army on Friday morning following allegations that they had opened fire at Israeli settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron, wounding five people.Israel’s emergency medical service Magen David Adom stated that among those wounded, two are in critical condition.Unverified footage shared on social media shows an intense gun battle between soldiers and Palestinians at a military checkpoint at the entrance to the city of Hebron.The Israeli army has cordoned off Palestinian villages near Hebron, the Haaretz newspaper reported.The shooting comes at a time of high tensions in the West Bank as attacks by extremist Jewish settlers and the Israeli army against Palestinians and their land have intensified during the annual olive harvest season that began earlier this month and Israel’s general election taking place in four days.The Israeli military said it had found a large quantity of ammunition in the attackers’ vehicle. The military said they believe the gunmen had intended to carry out a much larger attack on the nearby Route 35, but unexpectedly ran into the checkpoint.Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has built his election campaign on promising security, said he had instructed the military to prepare for a full lockdown of the West Bank, beginning later on Friday. The West Bank was already expected to be placed under lockdown for the election on Monday and Tuesday, according to Israeli media.Netanyahu added that his Likud party would cancel campaign events for the morning.Palestinian figures indicate that around 750,000 Israeli settlers live illegally in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, across 194 settlements and approximately 400 outposts.Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land are considered illegal under international law.
Israeli army shoots two Palestinians dead at West Bank checkpoint
