Hebron Checkpoint Attack Kills Two Israeli Soldiers, Wounds 3

Two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting attack near Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, on Friday, 23 October 2026, according to the Israeli military and multiple outlets. The Hebron checkpoint attack also left three other soldiers wounded, officials said.

The shooting took place on Friday morning at a military checkpoint near the Yehuda Junction outside Hebron, according to the Israeli military. Two armed Palestinian men drove up to the checkpoint and opened fire, sparking a firefight of about 20 minutes before both attackers were shot dead.

Soldiers named by military reports

Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem were killed in the exchange, according to Sky News reporting cited by The Morning Post. Three other soldiers were wounded, officials said.

The IDF said the men carried an M16 rifle and a handgun, and that soldiers stopped them from reaching a nearby highway where they had apparently intended to attack civilians, officials said. Army chief of staff Eyal Zamir said ammunition seized from the attackers was intended for a larger-scale attack, according to the Associated Press.

The number of wounded was disputed in early reports, with the BBC and the army citing three wounded, while a preliminary military investigation cited by The Guardian said five Israelis were wounded, two of whom later died.

Attack days before election

The attack came four days before Israel’s parliamentary election on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking another term, officials said. The government had warned of potential attacks in the lead-up to the election.

It also came amid heightened tensions, including attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian olive harvesters, officials said. The UN said settler violence in 2026 had reached record levels.

Officials said the military launched an immediate operation in the Hebron area after the attack, with troops conducting searches and questioning suspects. Further details on the attackers’ backgrounds were not immediately released.

Military officials said the checkpoint investigation would examine how the attackers approached the position, what weapons they carried, and whether they had planned a larger attack, and they urged residents in the Hebron area to follow army instructions during searches and to report suspicious activity.