Palestinian Gunman Kills Israeli Man Near West Bank Settlement, Captured Hours Later

A 37-year-old Palestinian man carried out a shooting attack near the Ein Ri'a spring in the Benjamin region of the West Bank on Sunday, killing Natanel Shicron, a father of six from the settlement of Ali Zahav. Shicron was found in his vehicle near the settlement of Neve Tzuf and was evacuated by Magen David Adom to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, where he was later pronounced dead. His eldest son, who was in the car with him, was unharmed.

Security forces launched a manhunt for the attacker, who fled to a hospital in Ramallah. He was apprehended about three hours later by members of the Duvdevan Unit. A soldier who was in the area had fired at the gunman, wounding him before he escaped. The IDF's chief of staff, Aviv Kochavi, ordered the attacker's home to be sealed and demolished.

Shortly after the shooting, before the gunman was captured, IDF forces from the Paratroopers Brigade's 890th Battalion killed another terrorist who attempted a ramming attack near the settlement of Ganim in the Menashe Brigade area. An additional suspect in that incident was arrested, and no IDF soldiers were harmed.

Witnesses at the spring described scenes of panic amidst the sound of gunfire. The attack occurred on the eve of Yom Kippur, a major Jewish holiday. Natanel Shicron's funeral is scheduled for Sunday night.

Local Israeli leaders condemned the attack. The head of the Benjamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, Israel Gantz, stated that settlers would not be driven from the area. The head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, called for increased security operations in Palestinian villages and a shift from defense to offense. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded the death penalty for the attacker.

The attack took place amid heightened IDF alert in the West Bank, with increased patrols and searches for weapons and explosives. The IDF reported that in recent months, forces have searched over 1,200 structures, interrogated approximately 930 suspects, and arrested about 230 wanted individuals, confiscating over 100 weapons.