Israeli soldiers shot and killed two men near the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday morning, after the military said the pair had launched an attack near the Yehuda Junction. At least five people were injured, some critically, and were evacuated to hospitals in Israel.

The army said it had prevented a "terror attack against Israeli civilians." It said the two men were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun. No details were provided on the identities of the dead or the injured, nor on the specific target of the alleged attack.

Emergency responders said gunfire was still ongoing when they arrived at the scene. Two men in their 20s had gunshot wounds to their lower limbs; one was unconscious and seriously injured. "We arrived at a difficult scene while shooting was still taking place in the area," said Tzuriel Edri with the response team.

Following the shooting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet, along with officials from top military and security agencies. He blamed Hamas, saying the militant group was "planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians."

"Our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination," Netanyahu said, without elaborating on what the planned attack entailed. "I commend them for their actions and wish our wounded a speedy recovery," he added, without specifying whether the wounded were soldiers or civilians.

Netanyahu's office subsequently ordered the army to prepare for a full closure of the West Bank, starting Friday. Security forces were instructed to immediately cordon off the city of Hebron as part of the measures.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir used the incident to call for restrictions on Palestinian freedom of movement in the West Bank. "The lives of the residents of Judea and Samaria, of the settlers, the lives of the soldiers, the lives of the police officers, the lives of our fighters are a million times more important than freedom of movement," he said, using an Israeli term for the West Bank.

Friday's closure is the fourth imposed across the West Bank in the past month. Israeli checkpoints and gates connecting Palestinian villages to major roads have been shut under the restrictions. Israeli roads in the territory remain open to Israeli drivers, including settlers, who may face some delays.

The shooting took place days before Israeli voters go to the polls next Tuesday to decide whether to grant Netanyahu another term as prime minister. The election comes three years after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.

Ahead of the vote, Netanyahu had warned that Hamas could attempt an attack to influence the election outcome. He did not provide evidence to support the claim. Israel's government had also issued broader warnings about potential attacks by the country's "enemies" in the lead-up to polling day.

Also on Friday, the army said soldiers and Israeli security and intelligence agencies conducted dozens of operations across the West Bank, apprehending dozens of people, including individuals said to be affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Authorities said weapons were located during the operations, including M16 rifles and submachine guns. An investigation into the Hebron-area shooting was underway.