Israeli Settler Murdered in West Bank Shooting Attack, Gunman Captured

Natanel Sharon, a father of six from the settlement of Ali Zahav, was killed Sunday afternoon in a shooting attack near the Ein Riyya spring in the Benjamin region. He was found in critical condition in his vehicle and evacuated by Magen David Adom to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, where doctors later pronounced him dead. His elder son, who was in the car, was unharmed.

Security forces launched a manhunt for the 37-year-old gunman from the village of Biddu. After approximately three hours, soldiers from the Duvdevan Unit apprehended him in a hospital in Ramallah. The gunman had fled there after being wounded when a soldier fired at him. Security forces had initially engaged the attacker, who then escaped injured.

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

Initial investigation revealed the attacker arrived by car at the spring area and opened fire on Sharon's vehicle. A soldier in a protected vehicle in the vicinity shot at the attacker, who was wounded and fled with his weapon to the Ramallah hospital. Special forces, including Duvdevan, were deployed to the area, along with Air Force aircraft and a combat helicopter. Checkpoints were established throughout the region, with security officials concerned the armed gunman might carry out another attack during the manhunt.

Security camera footage captured the attacker's red Mitsubishi Outlander. The IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, visited the scene and ordered reinforcements to aid in the ongoing manhunt, which ultimately led to the suspect's capture. The Shin Bet provided intelligence indicating the suspect had fled to the Ramallah hospital, where Duvdevan fighters apprehended him in his bed. The incident occurred amidst heightened IDF alert in Judea and Samaria ahead of the High Holidays, with extensive searches and arrests conducted in recent months.