An Israeli man was shot dead in a West Bank attack near the Neve Tzuf settlement on Sunday, as violence flared ahead of Yom Kippur.
According to police and military reports, the initial shooting occurred when a gunman opened fire from a vehicle targeting individuals gathered at a natural spring near the settlement of Neve Tzuf, near Ramallah.
Medics who arrived at the scene of the shooting said they found a man in a car suffering from critical gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said. The gunman was located a few hours later at a hospital in Ramallah and arrested, police said.
Simultaneous West Bank Clashes and Soldier Actions Near Ganim
Shortly after the shooting, the military said that its forces “eliminated” a Palestinian driver who had attempted a ramming attack on soldiers near the settlement of Ganim, further north in the West Bank. No soldiers were hurt, it said, though Reuters was not able to immediately verify the soldiers’ account.
It was not clear whether the fatal incidents, on the eve of the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, were connected. Following the incidents, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed security agencies to beef up their forces and carry out arrests and offensive activities in the area. Palestinian militant group Hamas praised the shooting attack but did not claim responsibility for it.
Violence has escalated in the West Bank since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the ensuing Israeli military offensive in Gaza. The West Bank violence has included a sharp rise in attacks by militant settlers on Palestinians, as well as sweeping Israeli military raids and Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
Counterterrorism Raids and Weapon Factory Dismantling in Nablus
The IDF dismantled over 30 weapon production machines in the Nablus area over the course of a two-day counterterrorism operation, the military announced on Friday.
During the operation, the IDF, guided by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), also confiscated concealed weaponry, questioned suspects, and arrested over 10 wanted individuals. In another operation, Israeli security forces arrested five members of a suspected terrorist cell in the Kabatiya area of the West Bank on Friday, according to the military. Per the IDF, the five individuals were involved in planning and advancing terror attacks, and planning to carry out an attack against Israeli armed forces and civilians. The military also touted the fact that the five were each apprehended within less than ten minutes of security forces reaching their locations. Upon searching the suspected terrorists’ homes, IDF soldiers found military equipment, including an M16 rifle.
“I commend our forces on a successful operation in Samaria in which they destroyed dozens of lathes for weapons manufacturing, seized dozens of weapons, and arrested individuals wanted for involvement in terrorism. Our activity to thwart terrorism continues with full force in Judea and Samaria, Gaza, Lebanon, and every place where our enemies attempt to threaten the State of Israel,” the prime minister said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Targeted Strike in Khan Yunis and Broader Regional Tensions
Also on Friday, the IDF announced that it had killed Muhammad Mahmoud Marshad al-Qadi, a Nukhba Force company commander, in a targeted strike in the Khan Yunis area in the southern Gaza Strip.
Qadi took part in the October 7 invasion and was also involved in keeping the Israeli hostages captive throughout the war in Rafah. Recently, Qadi led training for Hamas terrorists and worked to rehabilitate the terrorist organization’s capabilities, the IDF said, adding that he constituted an active threat because he had recently planned and advanced attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians. James Genn contributed to this report.