DOMINANT ANGLE
Berlin is deciphering the lockdown of the West Bank through the prism of the Israeli electoral calendar, sticking to official statements and exercising caution in attributing it to Hamas.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
According to the army as cited by DW, two Israeli soldiers were killed and three injured near Hebron; the two suspected perpetrators were shot.
- 02
Netanyahu ordered the lockdown of Hebron and asked security forces to prepare for a lockdown of the entire West Bank, just days before Tuesday's election.
- 03
Smotrich ordered the destruction of "illegal Arab buildings" near the site of the attack, according to DW.
ANALYSIS
Berlin, October 23, 2026. The German press reports on the attack in Hebron in a subdued tone, first citing the statements from the office of Benyamin Netanyahou. According to DW, two Israeli soldiers were killed and three others injured on Friday morning near a checkpoint, according to the army; the two presumed Palestinian perpetrators were shot. Tagesschau, which relies on "Israeli indications," reports that several Israelis were injured, some critically, and specifies that the attackers had an M16 rifle and a handgun. It notes that the army did not provide any details about the target.
The two media outlets place the political decision at the center. The Prime Minister ordered the lockdown of the city of Hebron after a meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of Staff Ejal Zamir, and asked the security forces to prepare for the lockdown of the entire West Bank. DW explains what this would imply: the closure of all crossing points. The army has already set up many roadblocks, Tagesschau reports. Netanyahou claims that the security forces prevented a "serious attack" and announces "large waves of arrests"; he promises to pursue "Hamas terrorists and their sponsors everywhere and at all times."
The articles keep their distance on attribution. DW writes that it is still unknown whether the two men were actually members of Hamas, an organization classified as terrorist by many states. Tagesschau indicates that Hamas welcomed the attack without directly assuming responsibility, while Netanyahou accuses it of preparing a large-scale attack against civilians.
The electoral calendar returns in each text: the Israeli election takes place on Tuesday, four days later, and the announcement of the lockdown comes "kurz vor der Parlamentswahl." DW also relays the reaction of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, described as "far-right," who ordered the destruction of "illegal Arab buildings" near the site of the attack, an order supposed to be executed on the same day. Neither of the two articles reports any official Palestinian reaction or the concrete consequences of the lockdown for the civilian population at this stage.
