IDF Chief of Staff Visits Attack Site, Vows to Capture All Accomplices

The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, visited the scene of a deadly shooting attack near the settlement of Ofra in the West Bank on Sunday. During his visit, Kochavi conducted a situation assessment, toured the area, and received an initial debriefing.

He ordered a lockdown of the area, the continuation of the manhunt for any accomplices who aided the terrorist, and initiated proceedings to seal and demolish the attacker's home. "This is a severe attack, and I send our condolences to the family of the murdered man from here," Kochavi stated. "We have quickly closed the circle; the despicable terrorist was apprehended by IDF forces. Our mission is not over; we will impose a closure on the village and conduct investigations, thereby reaching everyone who assisted him."

Kochavi also addressed the military's operational readiness ahead of the Yom Kippur holiday and fast. "On the eve of Yom Kippur, we reinforced forces in the field and placed forces on standby for immediate deployment. On this holy day, as the people of Israel gather for Yom Kippur prayers, the IDF continues to stand guard."

He emphasized the IDF's mission across all fronts: "The IDF is on high alert, deployed and prepared with reinforced forces in all sectors, including during the fast. Our mission is clear and ongoing, to thwart terror, act decisively against any threat, and protect the citizens of the State of Israel."