Israeli emergency services reported that Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a gas station near an Israeli settlement in the West Bank today, Tuesday, resulting in four deaths and four injuries among settlers, one of which is in critical condition. In light of the attack, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir vowed a broad military response, supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who indicated that "all options are open after the attack." However, security committee consultations preferred conducting raids and arrests in the West Bank rather than expanding measures in anticipation of a third uprising.
The Israeli army stated that one of the attackers was shot by an Israeli soldier who happened to be present at the scene, while the second fled into the nearby wilderness towards Ramallah, only to be killed in the city of Tubas after engaging with Israeli soldiers.
In its first comment on the incident, the Islamic Jihad movement described the "heroic operation" as part of the right to resist and respond to the occupation, signifying the resilience and capacity of resistance to act in all circumstances.
In a comment on the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that all options are on the table and that there is a meeting to assess the situation involving the Shin Bet, the army, and leaders of the security system, with expectations of escalation at night, as several settlers called for attacks on Palestinian towns in retaliation for the assault.
Notably, the settlement of "Aylieh" has never before experienced violence and is classified as a safe and neutral area concerning security events. However, it entered into a series of raids today searching for the second assailant before he was found in the woods, leading to the closing of entrances to villages south of Nablus and north of Ramallah.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that Israeli forces and settlers invaded the town of the attack's perpetrator, "Hawara," where 36 Palestinians were injured due to assaults on the local residents. Additionally, fires were set to olive groves and agricultural lands.
Later, Hamas announced that "the shooter is a member of its armed wing and that the attack came in response to the Israeli assault yesterday." Local media reported that the shooter killed at the attack site was a young man named Mohannad Shahada from the town of Aourif.
