Crackdown in the West Bank days ahead of Israeli elections

On October 23, 2026, Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinian men near Hebron in the West Bank after they allegedly launched an attack, injuring five others critically. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank starting that day. The incident occurred days before Israel's elections on October 30, prompting Netanyahu to cancel political events and emphasize the importance of security over freedom of movement. On October 30, Israeli forces demolished the homes of two Palestinians accused in the shooting that killed two soldiers and wounded three others near Hebron, displacing thousands of residents. UN human rights chief Volker Türk expressed grave concerns about the use of force and potential ethnic cleansing.