Israel Locks Down West Bank After Shooting Wounds Five Israelis
WHO:
CNN - Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine said the settler attack had strengthened her commitment to continue reporting on Palestinians.
CNN - Levine said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that footage showed her being knocked down and then helped up was false; she said her attackers stood her up while trying to rob her.
CNN - Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an Israeli military checkpoint; five Israelis were wounded.
CNN - Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service said two of the wounded were in critical condition.
NBC News - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a “full lockdown” of the occupied West Bank.
NBC News - The Israeli military said it killed two Palestinians accused of carrying out the attack; their identities were not immediately clear.
NY Post - The Israeli army said the gunmen had an M16 rifle and a handgun.
WHAT:
Israel National News - An initial investigation indicated the shooting continued for a long time before the gunmen were killed.
Israel National News - MDA EMT Tzuriel Edri said a man in his 20s was unconscious with gunshot wounds and in very serious condition when he was loaded into an ambulance; another critically injured casualty was treated by IDF medical forces in a mobile intensive care unit.
Israel National News - MDA Paramedic Hanan Meir said a man in his 20s with gunshot wounds to his lower limbs was fully conscious and in mild, stable condition; another man in his 20s also had lower-limb gunshot wounds.
Israel National News - MDA EMT Avraham Eitan Stern said a man about 20 years old had minor facial injuries apparently caused by bullet fragments.
CNN - Levine said attackers kicked and hit her with sticks, took her camera equipment and personal belongings, and tore off a gold necklace given to her by her daughter.
CNN - Levine sustained a broken rib, a broken vertebra, and a finger injury requiring surgery.
CNN - Israeli police arrested at least 10 suspects in connection with attacks on Levine and European diplomats.
CNN - Yesh Din documented more than 530 incidents of settler and soldier violence since the olive harvest began, including looting crops and livestock and destroying olive trees; more than a quarter occurred in soldiers’ presence and under their protection.
CNN - More than a third of illegal settler outposts established as settlements expanded since Netanyahu’s government formed had been approved by the government.
Israel National News - Two injured people were in moderate condition; the other three included two in critical condition and one reported in very serious condition.
Israel National News - The injured were taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem and Shaare Zedek hospitals in Jerusalem.
Israel National News - Shaare Zedek said its two moderately injured patients were conscious and stable and were transferred for imaging tests and further treatment.
CNN - The Israeli military said it would “impose a full siege” on Hebron after the shooting wounded five people.
NY Post - The Israeli army said it prevented a “terror attack against Israeli civilians.”
NBC News - Netanyahu’s office said it instructed the Israel Defense Forces to “impose a closure” on Hebron and prepare for a “full lockdown” across the West Bank.
NBC News - Magen David Adom said responders treated at least five injured people, including two in critical condition.
NBC News - The Israeli military said it was continuing to search the area.
NBC News - The West Bank saw a recent surge in settler violence and military activity amid the olive harvest; Palestinians, activists, and American journalists were among those attacked or detained.
NBC News - The U.N. recorded at least 160 Israeli settler attacks linked to the olive harvest in the first two weeks of October; it said many were carried out “under the protection of, or with the participation of, Israeli forces.”
NBC News - Netanyahu’s government has backed settlement expansion in the West Bank despite international condemnation.
WHERE:
CNN - Levine was attacked while covering the olive harvest in the West Bank; settlers also attacked European diplomats visiting the Palestinian Christian town of Taybeh.
CNN - The shooting took place at an Israeli military checkpoint in the occupied West Bank; the military imposed a siege on Hebron.
NBC News - The attack occurred near Yehuda Junction, near Hebron.
NBC News - Brad Lander, a New York congressional candidate, was detained in the area with activists and American rabbis.
WHEN:
Israel National News - A rescue worker said gunfire continued for over 20 minutes.
NBC News - Magen David Adom said it received a report of multiple casualties at around 7:15 a.m. local time (12:15 a.m. ET).
NBC News - Netanyahu’s office said the West Bank lockdown was to start Friday; the article also said the Israeli election was scheduled for next Tuesday.
WHY:
NBC News - The lockdown came ahead of an Israeli election described as a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership in the wake of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks.
NBC News - Netanyahu’s campaign focused on Israeli security, and his government warned of possible attacks by the country’s “enemies,” without providing evidence.
HOW:
Israel National News - The IDF said it imposed a cordon in the area after its soldiers killed two gunmen and continued searches.
CNN - Levine said Palestinian men intervened to protect her and her rescuers as they tried to escape attackers throwing rocks.
Israel National News - MDA EMT Tzuriel Edri said responders entered the scene in a bulletproof ambulance while gunfire was ongoing.
Israel National News - MDA paramedic Hanan Meir said he treated a man with gunshot wounds to his lower limbs, including stopping the bleeding; another man had minor facial injuries apparently caused by bullet fragments.
NBC News - The army said it killed two people after the shooting and continued searching the area; the attackers reportedly carried an M16 rifle and a handgun, according to the NY Post.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 16:15 UTC)
Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a military checkpoint near Hebron, wounding five Israelis; two were in critical condition, and another was reported very seriously injured. The Israeli military said it killed two Palestinians accused of carrying out the shooting and continued searching the area. Israel’s Magen David Adom said the injured included people with gunshot wounds to their legs and minor facial injuries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a closure of Hebron and a full lockdown across the occupied West Bank, ahead of an Israeli election. Separately, photojournalist Heidi Levine said settlers attacked her while she covered the olive harvest, beating her and taking her equipment and belongings. She suffered a broken rib and vertebra, and said the attack strengthened her resolve to report on Palestinians. Israeli police arrested at least 10 suspects in attacks involving Levine and visiting European diplomats.
--
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 12:00 UTC)
Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a military checkpoint near Hebron, wounding five Israelis, including two in critical condition. The Israeli military said it killed two Palestinians accused of the attack and continued searching the area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a closure of Hebron and a full lockdown across the occupied West Bank, ahead of an Israeli election. Separately, Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine said settlers attacked her while she covered the olive harvest, beating her with sticks and stealing her equipment and belongings. She suffered a broken rib, a broken vertebra and a finger injury requiring surgery. Levine disputed Netanyahu’s account that she was knocked down and then helped up, saying attackers stood her up while trying to rob her. She said the assault strengthened her resolve to report on Palestinians. Rights groups have documented hundreds of incidents of settler and soldier violence during the harvest.
--
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 11:04 UTC)
Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron, wounding five Israelis. Israel’s emergency service said two were in critical condition, one was very seriously injured, and two were moderately hurt. The injured were taken to hospitals in Jerusalem. Responders entered the scene in a bulletproof ambulance while gunfire continued, and one paramedic treated a man shot in the legs. The Israeli military said it killed two Palestinians accused of carrying out the attack and was searching the area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a closure of Hebron and a full lockdown across the occupied West Bank. The military said the gunmen had an M16 rifle and a handgun. The move comes ahead of an election, as the West Bank faces rising settler violence and military activity. The United Nations recorded at least 160 settler attacks linked to the olive harvest in October’s first two weeks.
--
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 10:06 UTC)
Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron, wounding five Israelis, including two who were in critical condition. The Israeli military said the attackers carried an M16 rifle and a handgun, and that it killed two Palestinians accused of carrying out the shooting; their identities were not immediately clear. The army said it was continuing to search the area. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a closure of Hebron and a full lockdown across the occupied West Bank, with the military imposing a siege on the city. The measures come ahead of an Israeli election, as Netanyahu’s campaign focuses on security. The violence unfolds amid a surge in settler attacks and military activity during the olive harvest. The United Nations recorded at least 160 settler attacks linked to the harvest in the first two weeks of October, many involving Israeli forces.