Deadly Attack Rocks West Bank Junction
In a violent incident that unfolded on Tuesday, at least one person lost their life and three others sustained injuries during an attack at the Gush Etzion Junction in the West Bank. Israeli emergency services confirmed the casualties following what authorities described as a combined vehicle-ramming and stabbing assault.
Attack Details and Casualties
According to the Israel Defence Forces, the assailants first attempted to ram their vehicle into pedestrians at the busy junction. One of the attackers then exited the vehicle and began stabbing people in the area. The Israel volunteer rescue group ZAKA, which often serves as first responder, reported that three terrorists suspected of carrying out the attack were neutralized on site.
The victims included a man in his 30s who was stabbed to death at the scene. Medical personnel confirmed he succumbed to a severe stab wound. Two other victims - another man in his 30s and a 15-year-old boy - suffered moderate injuries during the attack.
In a tragic turn of events, a 55-year-old woman was apparently struck by Israeli troops' gunfire by mistake. Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem reported the woman is in serious condition after suffering gunshot wounds to her lower body.
Military Response and Security Measures
The Israeli military revealed that several explosives were found inside the vehicle used by the attackers in the ramming and stabbing incident. Border Police sappers are currently working to disarm the dangerous devices discovered at the scene.
Following the attack, the IDF deployed numerous troops to block roads, surround nearby Palestinian villages, and conduct extensive searches throughout the area. Security forces remain on high alert as investigations continue into the coordinated assault.
This incident occurs amid escalating violence in the West Bank region. Just a day earlier, Israeli settlers stormed the Palestinian village of al-Jab'a, setting homes and cars on fire in a rampage that prompted rare condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials.
The United Nations Security Council recently approved a US-drafted resolution backing President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza, though Hamas has rejected the proposal, stating it fails to address Palestinian rights adequately.
