Israeli Man Killed in West Bank Terror Attack Near Naveh Tzuf

Natanel Shkaron, a resident of the settlement of Ali Zahav in the Samaria region, has been identified as the victim of a fatal terror attack that occurred near the settlement of Naveh Tzuf. Shkaron, a father of six and a high-tech worker, was at a spring with his eldest son to immerse himself ahead of Yom Kippur when the attack took place. He was evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in critical condition, where his death was pronounced upon arrival in the trauma unit.

According to initial reports, the assailant arrived at the spring area by car, exited with a long-barreled weapon, and opened fire at close range. The attacker then fled the scene on foot. A tracker present in the area reportedly shot and wounded the assailant before he escaped. Shkaron's wife, Dr. Me'irav Shkaron, is a lecturer at Ariel University.

Shortly after the attack, soldiers from the Duvdevan Unit apprehended the suspect at a hospital in Ramallah. The terrorist was wounded and lying in a hospital bed, a result of the shooting by the tracker. He surrendered without his weapon. The head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, eulogized Shkaron as a "man of kindness, humble and loving person, a devoted family man, and part of a deep-rooted and veteran family in Ali Zahav."

In response to the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF and Shin Bet to increase forces in Judea and Samaria. These forces are authorized to impose lockdowns, conduct offensive operations, make arrests, and immediately demolish the terrorist's home.