HEBRON CHECKPOINT BLOODBATH: Two Israeli Soldiers Killed Before Gunmen Are Taken Down

 

Two armed Palestinian gunmen from Hebron drove up to a temporary Israeli military checkpoint at Judea Junction on Route 35 on the morning of Friday, October 23, 2026, and opened fire on the troops stationed there. Staff Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, both of the Ari Battalion, were killed, and three other soldiers were lightly wounded. The gunfight reportedly dragged on for more than 20 minutes before reinforcements maneuvered around the attackers and killed them. The IDF says the two men, both 27 and described as Hamas-affiliated, were carrying a rifle and a handgun.

According to the army's initial assessment, the pair had meant to reach Route 35 and attack Israeli civilians, but opened fire at the checkpoint once they realized they could not get through. A large quantity of ammunition was reportedly found in their vehicle, which security officials say points to a much bigger attack that was stopped. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the soldiers' response limited the damage. In the aftermath, Israel launched a major operation in the Hebron area, with Hebron and Halhul placed under closure and the attackers' homes sealed. The Palestinian Authority says nearly 2,700 people have been displaced by the operation, while many questions remain about how the gunmen reached the checkpoint and what exactly they planned.