Palestinian Killed Near Jenin; Settler Slain in West Bank Shooting Attack

On Sunday, a Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces near Jenin, with the military claiming he attempted a car ramming attack. Another Palestinian was arrested in connection with the incident. In a separate event near Ramallah, a settler was killed in a shooting attack near the settlement of Hamish (Naveh Tzuf). The Israeli military announced the arrest of the shooter after he was wounded during a pursuit and fled to a hospital.

Local sources in Jenin reported that Israeli forces fired live ammunition at a vehicle near the village of Haddad, east of the city, injuring its occupants. The Palestinian Red Crescent stated that Israeli forces prevented its crews from reaching the site. The identity of the deceased Palestinian, identified by the Palestinian Ministry of Health as Sami Hassan Hussein Zawaida, 32, and the fate of another Palestinian reportedly in the vehicle, remain unclear. Israeli reports claimed two soldiers fired at the vehicle, alleging a car ramming attempt.

In the Hamish incident, the settler, in his thirties, was critically wounded while inside his vehicle and later died from his injuries. Israeli media reported the attacker arrived in a red Mitsubishi Outlander with Palestinian license plates, exited the vehicle, opened fire, and fled on foot toward the village of Deir Nidham. The Israeli military stated its forces, with intelligence from the Shin Bet, pursued and apprehended the shooter after he was wounded and sought refuge in a hospital.

Following the shooting, the Israeli military deployed significant reinforcements to the Ramallah area, including special forces and police, and imposed closures on entrances to Ramallah. Searches were conducted in surrounding towns and villages. The Israeli Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi, assessed the situation and ordered additional reserve units to the area. The number of Israeli army battalions operating in the West Bank has reportedly reached 27, the highest since the start of the war in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered enhanced forces and closures in the West Bank, vowing to pursue perpetrators and their helpers "in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank." He also directed the immediate demolition of the shooter's home. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that settlers' right to life supersedes Palestinians' freedom of movement and called for the execution of the attacker.

In an unrelated incident, Israeli reports indicated the arrest of a Palestinian near the Rimonim junction, east of Ramallah, for allegedly attempting a car ramming attack against Israeli soldiers. No soldiers were reported injured.