On Sunday, a Palestinian man with Israeli citizenship went on a shooting spree across several towns in central Israel, killing one person and injuring five others, according to Israeli police. The assailant was shot and killed by the police.
The initial reports of multiple shooting locations raised fears of a coordinated attack by multiple gunmen crossing from the West Bank, reminiscent of the Hamas attacks in October 2023. However, police later confirmed the involvement of a lone gunman, with one accomplice.
Magen David Adom, the rescue services, received a report of a shooting at a gas station near Kokhav Yair around 10:30 a.m. This town is located on the Israeli side near the West Bank boundary. More shooting incidents were subsequently reported in Tsur Natan, Tsur Yitzhak, and near the Israeli settlement of Sal’it, within the West Bank.
The police detained a second individual involved in the attack later in the day. This suspect attempted to stab officers with a glass bottle during arrest; fortunately, no injuries occurred. Investigations are ongoing.
Channel 12 in Israel revealed that the attacker used a car to move quickly between the shooting locations, allowing rapid access to various sites.
In Kokhav Yair, a 35-year-old Israeli man lost his life, as reported by Magen David Adom. One of the ot her victims managed to escape to a nearby McDonald’s, leaving bloodstained clothing on the floor near the entrance after paramedics removed and cut them off for treatment.
Rescue services initially mentioned six injuries, but later clarified the number to five: two severely injured and three with moderate injuries. Due to the chaotic situation, residents were asked to stay indoors, and children were kept in lockdown at school for about three hours, as the regional council head directed.
Oshrit Gani Gonen, head of the regional council, expressed shock, noting that the expected threat was an attacker crossing from over the boundary. The revelation that the assailant was an Israeli citizen came as a surprise.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded the prompt actions of the security forces. Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, overseeing police operations, echoed these sentiments in a video. He appeared beside a blurred image, presumably of the attacker’s body, declaring that terrorists should meet such outcomes, ideally even before legal penalties.
Ben-Gvir, known for contentious stances, has faced criticism from other leaders for provocative actions. His approach appears aimed at rallying his conservative base ahead of upcoming legislative elections in Israel.
The tension in Israel and the West Bank remains high following the recent conflict in Gaza, which began in October 2023. On October 7, Hamas-led militants entered southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. In response, Israel’s offensive on Gaza led to over 72,000 Palestinian deaths, matching reports from the Gaza Health Ministry.
In related developments, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least four Palestinians at a police site in Khan Younis. These deaths were confirmed by the Palestinian Red Crescent, which transported the deceased to a field hospital. At least 10 more were wounded in the strike. The Israeli military has not commented on these events but maintains a stance of targeting potential militant threats.