Shooting Incident in Central Israel Involving Palestinian Citizen

On Sunday, a man with Israeli citizenship, identified as Palestinian, carried out a shooting in central Israel. The attack resulted in the death of one person and injuries to five others. The perpetrator was eventually killed by police.

Initial fears arose regarding multiple attackers crossing from the West Bank, reminiscent of previous attacks in October 2023. However, police determined it was the act of a lone gunman, assisted by an accomplice.

Magen David Adom, a rescue service, reported the first attack occurred at a gas station near Kokhav Yair, close to the boundary with the West Bank. Subsequently, reports of shootings emerged from Tsur Natan, Tsur Yitzhak, and near the settlement of Sal’it within the West Bank.

A second suspect was arrested later and attempted to attack police with a glass bottle. Fortunately, no officers were injured.

Reports from Israel’s Channel 12 suggest the attacker remained in his vehicle during the shootings, facilitating rapid transit between locations. The victim, a 35-year-old man, was killed in Kokhav Yair. Rescue teams treated five injured individuals; two in serious condition and three moderately injured.

For safety, residents were advised to remain indoors, and children were kept in schools for several hours.

Oshrit Gani Gonen, head of the regional council, noted the surprise at discovering the attackers were Israeli citizens, a scenario that was not anticipated previously.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised the swift response of security forces. Ben-Gvir released a video emphasizing his stance on dealing with terrorists and received criticism for his controversial methods to rally support ahead of upcoming elections.

Tensions have escalated in Israel and the West Bank, intensifying since the Gaza conflict in October 2023. During that period, Hamas-led militants’ attacks resulted in substantial casualties and hostages, leading to Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza.

Additionally, on the same day as the shootings, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed at least four Palestinians and injured 10 others, saying that such operations usually target threats to troops.