Two Israeli Defense Forces soldiers were killed and three other people were wounded by two suspected gunmen, who were also killed, in a shooting Friday in the southern West Bank, officials said.
Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman, aged 23, from Ashkelon, a squad commander in the Ari Battalion (775), Search and Rescue Brigade and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem, aged 20, from Hod Hasharon, a combat soldier in the Ari Battalion, Search and Rescue Brigade, both died as a result of the attack, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
The IDF reported that it responded to a shooting in the Judea Junction area Friday and killed two people it identified as “terrorists.”
Hours after the attack, Israel ordered the army to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank, according to the Associated Press.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet, claiming Hamas was “planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians.”
Netanyahu also said a large scale operation in the West Bank is to begin soon.
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“Our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination,” Netanyahu said.
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The identities of the suspected gunmen were not immediately released, but the Israeli army did identify them as Palestinians from Hebron armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun.
Israeli intelligence groups and security forces conducted dozens of raids throughout the West Bank on Friday, apprehending dozens of people, including those who Israeli officials claimed were members of Hamas and affiliated with Islamic Jihad.
The Israeli army’s chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, said a “large quantity of ammunition was found” in a vehicle used by the perpetrators.
“This ammunition was intended to be used in a larger-scale attack,” he said.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
Fox News’ Yonat Frilling and Thomas Ferraro contributed to this report.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
