Khaberni - This Friday morning, the western entrance to the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank witnessed an armed attack on an Israeli military checkpoint, which turned into a clash lasting more than 20 minutes, injuring 6 Israeli soldiers and resulting in the death of the two attackers, followed by extensive military operations and sharp political reactions in Israel.
What happened?
The Israeli occupation army stated that it killed two individuals who carried out a shooting attack near Hebron, injuring 6 Israelis, among them two in extremely critical condition.
The Israeli site "Walla" mentioned that all the injured were soldiers from a reserve battalion belonging to the Home Front Command, while Channel 14's correspondent reported that soldiers from the "Ari" battalion were stationed at the checkpoint, in their first operational deployment.
The army's statements followed from the first moments, starting with an initial report of injuries, then sending military reinforcements and executing closures and combing operations, eventually leading to imposing a security cordon around several surrounding villages.
Where did the attack occur?
The attack took place near the "Farsh al Hawa" checkpoint at the western entrance to Hebron, according to Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Al-Atrash, while Israel's Channel 14 reported that it targeted a military tower near the "Telem" settlement.
The checkpoint is one of the most prominent military barriers around Hebron, representing to Palestinians, as per Al Jazeera’s correspondent, a symbol of daily humiliation they suffer, and the frequent closures that impede their movement and travels.
How was the attack executed?
Details provided by Israeli media indicate that the attackers arrived on-site in a car with a yellow (Israeli) license plate, one armed with a rifle and the other with a pistol.
The shooting led to a clash with the Israeli occupation forces that lasted more than 20 minutes, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to the Al Jazeera correspondent, which was confirmed by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, which attributed the delay in evacuating the injured to the length of the clash.
"Walla" website reported that the initial investigation suggests the attackers of Hebron operation ambushed the Israeli forces and opened fire after the soldiers approached them.
Later, the Israeli occupation army announced that the two individuals who carried out the shooting were residents of Hebron, named Hamouda and Firas al-Ja'abeh, and stated that its forces stormed the homes of the attackers and "other suspects."
The emergency medic from the "Magen David Adom" Israeli service, Tzuriel Idri, said that the crews arrived while the shooting was still ongoing, forcing them to enter with an armored ambulance to evacuate the wounded.
Israeli sites broadcasted videos showing heavy gunfire during the attack, some clips displayed several firearms reported to have been used by the attackers, and Channel 14 broadcast scenes from the site showing scattered bullet casings, and a car said to belong to one of them.
According to Israeli media, the attackers attempted to flee towards Hebron, before the Israeli army announced their death near the site.
Planned for a Wider Attack
The Israeli security establishment estimates that the attackers had planned to carry out a broad attack, however, the checkpoint set up by the Israeli forces prevented this from happening.
The Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated that the attackers were carrying a large quantity of ammunition intended for a larger-scale attack, confirming that the quick reaction of the soldiers prevented a more severe attack, as reported by Channels 12 and “I 24” from Israel.
The spokesperson for the Israeli occupation army stated that Zamir approved a plan from the Central Command to impose a full security cordon around Hebron and other villages in the area, in addition to intensifying arrest campaigns and enhancing intelligence efforts in its vicinity.
