❗️ DEADLY SHOOTING NEAR HAVAT GILAD: An uncoordinated group of dozens of Israelis, including children, entered Areas A and B near Tell, east of Havat Gilad, according to an IDF investigation. These areas are normally off limits to Israelis.
The group reached the southern outskirts of Tell near a mosque, where a violent confrontation erupted with dozens of Palestinians. A military official said Israeli civilians fired into the air during the clash.
The security coordinator from Havat Gilad and another civil defense squad member arrived at the scene. An IDF company commander and platoon commander also arrived to disperse the confrontation.
A Palestinian then seized an assault rifle from one of the armed Israeli civilians and opened fire.
“Subsequently, terrorists stole the weapon of the security coordinator who had arrived at the scene, and opened fire at the Israeli civilians,” the IDF said in its initial account.
Benayahu Mellet, 32, a member of the Havat Gilad civil defense squad, was killed. At least four other Israelis were wounded. Evolving Magen David Adom reports described serious and moderate injuries among the wounded.
🎯 GUNMAN ELIMINATED; WEAPON RECOVERED: The IDF platoon commander returned fire and eliminated the gunman.
“The terrorist was eliminated immediately after carrying out the attack, and IDF troops recovered the stolen weapon,” the IDF said.
The military launched a manhunt for additional Palestinians involved in the attack.
❌ FOUR PALESTINIANS KILLED; CIRCUMSTANCES INVESTIGATED: The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry said four Palestinians were killed and four others wounded. The Palestinian Red Crescent said three wounded Palestinians, aged 19, 34 and 41, were seriously injured.
The eliminated gunman was among those killed. The IDF said it is still investigating how the other three Palestinians were shot.
❌ THREE TERRORISTS ELIMINATED AFTER ITAMAR AND GANIM STABBINGS: Earlier Thursday, two terrorists attacked and stabbed an Israeli civilian near a fire adjacent to the community of Itamar. A third terrorist stabbed an IDF soldier in the Ganim area.
The soldier, a paratrooper, was lightly wounded after the terrorist approached an army post at the site of the formerly evacuated community of Ganim. Other soldiers returned fire and eliminated the attacker.
The civilian and soldier were evacuated to a hospital for treatment. The soldier’s family was notified. All three terrorists involved in the two attacks were eliminated.
IDF soldiers are operating in Beit Furik, where they entered the home of one of the terrorists who carried out the attack near Itamar, searched several structures and questioned suspects.
Forces also entered Tubas, where the terrorist who stabbed the soldier in the Ganim area had resided. Soldiers entered his residence and are conducting counterterrorism operations throughout the area.
🛡️ IDF REINFORCES JUDEA AND SAMARIA: The IDF dispatched five companies to the Tell area, established security roadblocks and imposed a temporary cordon on Tell and Shechem.
“Additional IDF troops were dispatched to the scene and are conducting a manhunt for the terrorists and setting up roadblocks in the area,” the military said.
Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir conducted a situational assessment with the Central Command commander and the head of the Operations Directorate. He ordered additional forces deployed to strengthen defenses and apprehend everyone involved in the attack.
A joint security assessment is being led by the Central Command commander with representatives from the Judea and Samaria Division, the Israel Police Judea and Samaria District, and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).
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