Several Israelis have been injured this week in a number of terror attacks taking place in Israel and the West Bank, including shooting and car-ramming attacks.
This afternoon, a Palestinian driver attempted to ram his vehicle into IDF soldiers near the West Bank city of Hebron, but was shot and killed by troops. Soldiers opened fire on the vehicle as it sped toward them at a checkpoint at Halhul Junction, outside the town of Halhul north of Hebron, killing the driver and preventing the attack. A large knife was found on the driver’s body, the army said.
Earlier today, a Palestinian opened fire on the Gilboa crossing between Israel and the northern West Bank. According to a Defence Ministry statement, a guard identified the assailant and returned fire, apparently wounding him. A Palestinian commercial vehicle then sped up to the shooter, who got in and escaped.
On Thursday, four Israeli soldiers were injured, one critically, after a vehicle rammed into them at a West Bank junction. The attack took place near the settlement of Beit Aryeh. All four soldiers were wounded and were transported to hospital in Petach Tikvah. The vehicle was found abandoned in the nearby Palestinian village of al-Lubben, with an M-16 rifle and a stun grenade, thought to have been taken from one of the soldiers, discovered inside the car.
On Wednesday, an Israeli couple escaped serious injury when their car was hit by gunfire in a drive-by shooting attack near the West Bank settlement of Avnei Hefetz, south of the Palestinian city of Tulkarm. At least 20 bullets were fired at the car being driven by Shaul Nir and his wife Rachel, both aged 60. Although Shaul was reported to have been struck in the head, neither was thought to be in a life-threatening condition.
Later on in the day, two Israelis were wounded in a knife attack in Hebron. A Palestinian man stabbed an IDF soldier near the Jewish enclave of Beit Hadassah. A 20-year-old Israeli civilian, attempted to come to the soldier’s aid but was also stabbed. Both were moderately injured in the attack. A civilian security guard nearby eventually opened fire and killed the assailant at the scene.
Since October 1st, there have been over 126 terror attacks and attempted attacks carried out against Israelis, resulting in the deaths of 22 Israelis and over 200 injuries. Over 90 Palestinians have been killed, of whom 69 were terrorists, and at least 20 additional attackers wounded.
