Two Israeli soldiers died Friday when gunmen fired on a temporary checkpoint near Hebron, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say the army is preparing a West Bank campaign larger than any since 1967 with no start date set before the October 27 election. Ashkelon resident Staff Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, and Hod Hasharon resident Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, both of the 775th Ari Battalion, were killed and three other soldiers were wounded.

Troops killed both attackers after fighting that lasted more than 20 minutes; officials said they carried large ammunition stocks and seemed to have aimed first at civilians on a nearby highway. Netanyahu ordered Hebron sealed and extra forces including the 98th Division headquarters sent, and Hamas praised the shooting without claiming it.