Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a “full lockdown” of the occupied West Bank on Friday after Israel’s military said it killed two Palestinians accused of launching a shooting attack that injured five people near the city of Hebron.
\n\nThe deadly incident comes just days before a crucial election that will decide whether Netanyahu can hold on to power.
\n\nThere has been a recent surge in Israeli settler violence and military activity in the West Bank centered on the start of the olive harvesting season, with Palestinians, activists and American journalists among those attacked and detained.
\n\nNetanyahu’s office said said it instructed the Israel Defense Forces to “impose a closure” on Hebron and to prepare for a “full lockdown” across the entire West Bank starting Friday.
\n\nIn comments following an emergency meeting with his Security Cabinet and top military and security officials, Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the shooting and said the militant group was “planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians.”
\n\nHe cited “large quantities of weapons and ammunition discovered,” but did not provide further details on the attack.
\n\n“Our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination,” he said in a statement shared by the Israeli…
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