Two Israelis were shot dead in a terrorist attack in the northern West Bank on Sunday. According to the Israeli army, a Palestinian opened fire on a passing Israeli car near the Palestinian village of Huwara. Huwara is located roughly halfway between the Israeli settlement of Ariel and the city of Nablus.
The Red Star of David (Magen David Adom) ambulance service initially reported receiving an emergency call at 1:41 p.m. local time. Two men were being treated. They were later declared dead.
The victims are two brothers
A representative of the Israeli settlement Har Bracha stated that the deceased were brothers Hillel Menachem and Jagel Ya'akov Yaniv. They were 19 and 21 years old, respectively, and came from Har Bracha, located in the northern West Bank (Samaria), not far from the site of the attack.
The perpetrator is on the run, according to the Israeli army. A manhunt has been launched and roadblocks have been set up. The attack is the latest in a series of terrorist attacks in recent weeks. The number of Israelis killed this year has now risen to twelve. A Ukrainian woman also lost her life.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad celebrate
Hamas and the military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) immediately welcomed the latest terrorist attack on Sunday. The Quds Force, the military wing of PIJ, declared on its website that it fulfilled the promise to "avenge the blood of the leaders of the Quds Force, Mohammed al-Junaidi and Hussam Aslim," referring to an Israeli anti-terror operation on Wednesday.
During the hours-long security operation in Nablus, Israeli forces reported killing several terrorists from the groups PIJ and "Lion's Den." Palestinian sources stated that a total of eleven Palestinians died. The following night, terrorists from the Gaza Strip fired six rockets into Israel.
After the attack: Serious riots by Israeli settlers
Following the deadly Palestinian attack, violent unrest broke out among Israeli settlers. According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, a 37-year-old Palestinian man was fatally wounded by gunfire. The army stated that the shots were not fired by a soldier. At least 100 Palestinians were also injured. The Israeli emergency services reported that at least three Israelis were injured by thrown stones. Furthermore, numerous Palestinian homes and businesses were set on fire by settlers. Israeli soldiers rescued dozens of Palestinians from the flames.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) called on his fellow citizens on Sunday evening not to take the law into their own hands and instead to trust the security forces. President Yitzhak Herzog echoed this sentiment: “Taking the law into one’s own hands, rioting, and using violence against innocent people – that is not our way, and I condemn it in the strongest terms. We must allow the army, the police, and the security forces to arrest the despicable terrorist and restore order immediately.”
Escalation during Israeli-Palestinian talks
In light of the escalating situation, the army announced it would reinforce its troops in the West Bank. A spokesperson stated that "security checkpoints on the roads leading into and out of Nablus will be increased." The army is also continuing its search for the Palestinian terrorist.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah) condemned the “terrorist acts” perpetrated by settlers on Tuesday evening. He also blamed the “far-right Israeli government.” The US State Department stated that the United States condemned the violence in the West Bank and the terrorist attack on two Israelis, and warned against further escalation. The European Union called on Israeli and Palestinian authorities to “end this endless cycle of violence.”.
The terrorist attack and settler violence come amidst security talks between Israel and Palestinians. Representatives from both sides met on Sunday in the Jordanian resort town of Aqaba. The aim was to build trust. Representatives from Egypt and the United States were also present at the talks. The talks were prompted by a deadly anti-terrorist operation by the Israeli army on Wednesday, in which eleven Palestinians were killed. A final declaration states that all parties want to avoid further escalation and work towards a just and lasting peace. (Israelnetz)
