Netanyahu orders West Bank closure as attack wounds Israelis before election

On October 23, Palestinian militants injured five Israelis before being killed in a shootout with soldiers, prompting Prime Minister Netanyahu to impose a lockdown in the West Bank ahead of elections. Netanyahu stated that the military thwarted a potential major attack, as the assailants were heavily armed. The Israeli military conducted operations in Hebron, while Hamas praised the attack as a legitimate response to Israeli actions. National Security Minister Ben Gvir called for the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, despite no evidence linking it to the attack. The incident heightened tensions in the region, coinciding with rising violence and upcoming elections.