Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that he and the Prime Minister have instructed the IDF to dismantle all terror infrastructure in the area of a recent attack. They also directed a powerful, unprecedented operation in a neighborhood of Hebron. Katz made the announcement after visiting the scene of the attack.
On Friday morning, two terrorists from Hebron opened fire at Yehuda Junction, southeast of the city on Route 35, wounding five people, two of them critically. The attackers, Firas and Hamouda Al-Ja'abah, were both 27 and members of the same family. One was identified as affiliated with Hamas. Palestinian reports said IDF forces raided the family's home in Hebron.
After that shooting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an immediate closure of Hebron and a lockdown of Judea and Samaria. Netanyahu and Katz instructed IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to keep the cordon on Hebron and the wider closure in place at least until after Israel's Oct. 27 election. Troops surrounded Hebron and additional villages and entered the homes of suspected terrorists. The military also closed Highway 35 in both directions.
"We will pursue Hamas terrorists and those who send them, wherever they are and at any time," Netanyahu said at the time.
