The gunfire kept the wounded pinned down for a long time. Ofer Ohana, a medical professional well known in the area, filmed the scene and could be heard shouting: "The terrorist keeps firing. There are ongoing exchanges of fire between the terrorist and our forces. We can't evacuate the wounded! There's been active gunfire for more than 20 minutes!"
Accounts of the casualties differ. The Jerusalem Post cited Magen David Adom as reporting two critically, one moderately and two mildly wounded, while Ynet cited the emergency service as reporting two critical, two moderate and one light. The victims were taken to Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Ein Kerem hospitals in Jerusalem. Shaare Zedek said it received two patients in moderate, stable condition; Hadassah said it received one in mild condition.
Magen David Adom technician Tzuriel Edri described entering under fire in a bullet-resistant ambulance. "We brought a man in his 20s into the ambulance. He was unconscious, with gunshot wounds, and in extremely serious condition," he said. A second critically wounded victim was treated by IDF medical personnel in an intensive care ambulance.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said a large quantity of ammunition was found in the attackers' car. "This was a serious terrorist attack. The soldiers' swift response prevented an even more severe attack and further casualties among civilians and security forces," he said. As JFeed reported from his situation assessment, Zamir approved preparations for a full cordon around Hebron and nearby villages, more arrests and stepped-up intelligence work.
Netanyahu went further. "I have instructed the IDF and security forces to immediately impose a closure on the city of Hebron and prepare for a full lockdown of all of Judea and Samaria, beginning today," he said, adding that extensive waves of arrests would follow. "We will pursue Hamas terrorists and those who send them, wherever they are and at any time. You have nowhere to hide." He also canceled Likud events scheduled for Friday morning.
Several villages around Hebron were closed, and the military blocked Highway 35 in both directions. Walla reported that the attack appeared to target a reservists' battalion and that the gunmen likely used the weather to approach the checkpoint unseen.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the Palestinian Authority to be dismantled. "We must not wait for an October 7 in Judea and Samaria," he wrote. At the scene, he said the roadblocks should stay: "As long as there's terror, they should not be able to live as normal."
Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman rejected a policy of containment. "Terror is eliminated, not contained!" he said. Ofer Winter, chairman of the People of Israel party, argued that cordons and partial home demolitions were not enough. Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, prayed for the victims' recovery and praised the soldiers' courage.
Further updates to follow.
