Netanyahu says Palestinian Authority in for ‘big surprise’

On October 23, 2026, an attack in the occupied West Bank near Hebron left five Israelis wounded; two of them were in critical condition. Israeli forces responded by killing two Palestinian gunmen who had launched the assault. In response to the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a full lockdown of the entire West Bank, starting immediately, and instructed security forces to impose an immediate cordon on Hebron. This decision came days before Israel’s elections scheduled for October 31. Netanyahu claimed that Israeli troops prevented what could have been a major attack, with assailants allegedly carrying significant ammunition. The military also set up roadblocks in Palestinian towns around the area following the shooting at Judea Junction (also known as Yehuda Junction). On October 24, Israel launched a new military operation, sealing off all entrances and exits of Hebron and demolishing a residential building suspected to pose a security threat. Netanyahu’s far-right allies called for dismantling the Palestinian Authority but provided no evidence linking it to the attack. The Israeli military stated that counterterrorism operations were ongoing at dozens of locations in the Hebron area. This operation is expected to continue for several days, marking a significant escalation ahead of the upcoming elections. Hamas praised the attack on Israeli soldiers as heroic and called for more such actions. Tensions remain high with increased restrictions imposed across Palestinian communities in the West Bank.