❗ Deadly confrontation near Havat Gilad: An uncoordinated group of dozens of Israelis, including children, entered Areas A and B near Tell, east of Havat Gilad, despite the areas being normally off limits to Israelis. A confrontation developed with dozens of Palestinians near a mosque on the village’s southern outskirts, during which a military official said Israeli civilians fired into the air.
🔫 Stolen rifle used in fatal shooting: The Havat Gilad security coordinator, another civil defense squad member and IDF commanders arrived to disperse the confrontation. A Palestinian seized an assault rifle from one of the armed Israelis, identified in the IDF’s initial account as the security coordinator’s weapon, and opened fire on the Israeli civilians.
🕯️ One Israeli killed and at least four wounded: Benayahu Mellet, 32, a member of the Havat Gilad civil defense squad, was killed. At least four additional Israelis were wounded, with Magen David Adom reports describing serious and moderate injuries.
🎯 Gunman eliminated and weapon recovered: An IDF platoon commander returned fire and eliminated the attacker immediately after the shooting. Troops recovered the stolen rifle and launched a manhunt for additional Palestinians involved.
🏥 Additional Palestinian deaths investigated: The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry reported that four Palestinians were killed and four wounded, including three people aged 19, 34 and 41 who were described by the Palestinian Red Crescent as seriously injured. The eliminated gunman was among the dead, while the IDF said it was investigating how the other three Palestinians were shot.
🚧 Five companies deployed to the area: The IDF established roadblocks and imposed a temporary cordon on Tell and Shechem. Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir ordered additional forces deployed to strengthen defenses and apprehend everyone involved following an assessment with senior Central Command and Operations Directorate officers.
🛰️ Joint command assessment underway: Central Command Commander MG Avi Bluth and Judea and Samaria Division Commander BG Kobi Heller assessed the situation at the scene. The broader response includes representatives from the IDF, the Israel Police Judea and Samaria District and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).
⚠️ Forces prepare for retaliatory and copycat attacks: Additional deployments were made ahead of Mellet’s funeral amid calls to enter Palestinian villages and carry out attacks. Leave was suspended across the sector as the military prioritized maintaining order and preventing further Israeli-Palestinian confrontations.
📢 IDF warns against retaliatory violence: The military said attacks against Palestinians would divert personnel and resources away from confronting the underlying terrorist threat.
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