by Tzvi Joffre, Yonah Jeremy Bob
The terrorist reportedly got out of a car, fired at the two individuals who were sitting in a car on Highway 60 and ran from the scene.
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Israeli security forces secure the scene of a shooting attack where
two Israelis were shot dead in Hawara, in the West Bank, near Nablus,
February 26, 2023.
(photo credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)
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Two Israelis were murdered on Sunday in a terrorist shooting attack in the town of Huwara in the northern West Bank.
The terrorist used a car to ram into an Israeli vehicle that was driving through the town, before shooting and critically injuring the two passengers who later succumbed to their wounds. The terrorist escaped from the scene and the IDF is conducting searches in the area for the suspect.
The Yizhar Hagedola junction and the Tapuah junction were closed to traffic after the attack as security forces searched for the terrorist.
"It cannot be that in the light of day, terrorists allow themselves to shoot innocent civilians, the insolence of terrorism proves that there is no deterrence."
Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan
Magen David Adom paramedic Gil Bismuth who arrived at the scene stated that "When we arrived, we saw the two wounded lying near the vehicle as they were unconscious. Along with an IDF medical force, we gave them initial medical treatment in the field, we put them in military intensive care vehicles and they were evacuated to the hospital in severe condition."
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he would be holding a situation update meeting with all of Israel's security chiefs in the coming hours and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is receiving ongoing regular reports on the incident.
"We will continue to act by all means necessary, with security, operational activities, and with legislation, to deter the terrorists and maintain Israel's security," the prime minister said via Twitter.
Israeli security forces secure the scene of a shooting attack where two
Israelis were shot dead in Hawara, in the West Bank, near Nablus,
February 26, 2023. (credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)West Bank regional head calls on gov't to 'move from defense to offense'
Yossi Dagan, the head of the Samaria Regional Council, called on the government to "change the paradigm and move from defense to offense."
"It cannot be that in the light of day, terrorists allow themselves to shoot innocent civilians, the insolence of terrorism proves that there is no deterrence," said Dagan. "The people of Israel and the residents of Samaria are strong, we will not break in the face of the murderous terror of the Palestinian Authority."
Mayor of Beit El, Shai Alon, recounted the events of the attack, saying: "The shooting happened right behind me. It looked terrible - it was gunshots point blank. You are surrounded from the left and right sides, there is no way to escape. It cannot be that terrorists can possess weapons so easily and to freely fire [on Israeli civilians] point blank in broad daylight."
He added that the terror attack showed that there is "a total lack of control in Judea and Samaria and the threat...is worse than ever before," and that Israel must declare an "all-out war" to restore security.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid sent condolences to the families of the victims and said that he has "full trust that the security forces will catch the murderers."
"The resistance in the West Bank will remain present and escalating, and no plan or summit will be able to stop it."
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassam
Palestinians handed out sweets in Nablus, Jenin and the Gaza Strip shortly after the attack in celebration of the murders.
Palestinians burn tires and hurl stones at Israeli forces during a
protest on the border with Israel, east of Gaza City, January 26, 2022.
(credit: ATTIA MUHAMMED/FLASH90)Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassam called the terrorist attack a "natural reaction to the occupation's crimes," adding that "The resistance in the West Bank will remain present and escalating, and no plan or summit will be able to stop it."
The attack comes just hours after Israeli media reported that the defense establishment had decided to reduce operations in the West Bank in order to try and calm the situation ahead of Ramadan.
Aqaba security summit
The attack also comes as Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan and the US hold a summit in Aqaba to try and calm the tensions in the region. The summit has drawn widespread condemnation from Palestinian factions, with media affiliated with Hamas calling the summit "a prelude to eliminating the resistance of the West Bank at the hands of Palestinians."
Several hours after the attack, Jordanian parliament member Yanal Phriha'at welcomed the terror attack, claiming that "the fascist Zionist government is suffering from internal political fractures, we oppose the summit in Aqaba and see it as shameful.
"We salute the resistance fighters who fight against Israel's crimes. All attempts to destroy resistance will fail."IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi had made calming the West Bank situation one of his top priorities leading into Ramadan next month both to avoid a full-fledged intifada and be able to eventually reposition his forces back to the northern and southern fronts, which present greater threats long-term.
Tzvi Joffre, Yonah Jeremy Bob
Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-732764
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