Father of Six Murdered in West Bank Shooting Attack Ahead of Yom Kippur

Netanel Shakron, a resident of Alon Shvut and father of six, was killed Sunday morning in a shooting attack near the Ein Raya spring, close to Neve Tzuf in the Binyamin region of the West Bank. Shakron had gone to the spring with his eldest son for a ritual immersion ahead of the Yom Kippur holiday when a terrorist arrived in a vehicle and opened fire. Shakron was critically wounded and found unconscious in a vehicle by Magen David Adom paramedics, who provided emergency care, including blood transfusions, before evacuating him to the hospital. His death was later announced by the Samaria Regional Council.

Following the attack, the armed terrorist fled the scene on foot. Israeli forces, including the Duvdevan unit, launched an extensive manhunt, utilizing drones and air support, and cordoning off the village of Deir Nizam. After several hours, the terrorist was located and arrested in a Ramallah hospital where he had apparently sought refuge. Initial reports suggest he may have been wounded during an exchange of fire with Israeli forces.

Netanel Shakron, who worked as a systems information analyst for the Hachshara insurance company, is survived by his wife, Dr. Meirav Shakron, an lecturer at Ariel University, and their six children, the youngest of whom is four years old. Social services and emergency response teams are supporting the family. Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, described Shakron as "generous, humble, and loving, as well as a devoted family man."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended condolences to the family and vowed to pursue terrorists and those who assist them, stating, "No terrorist is safe, nor are those who assist him." He ordered the demolition of the terrorist's home and increased operations by the IDF and Shin Bet in the West Bank. Yisrael Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council, praised the security forces' swift response and urged the government to launch a broad operation against illegal weapons and terrorist infrastructure in the region.