Netanyahu Vows Retaliation After Deadly West Bank Terror Attack

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, expressed deep sorrow following a fatal terror attack near the settlement of Neve Tzuf in the West Bank, which claimed the life of Natanel (Nati) Shkaron, a father of six. The attack occurred at the Ein Ri'a spring, a popular spot for immersion ahead of Yom Kippur.

Netanyahu issued a stern warning, vowing that Israel would retaliate forcefully against terrorists and their collaborators, extending the reach of retribution to Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank. "No terrorist is immune, nor are those who aided them. We will settle accounts with all of them," he stated. He also announced immediate operational measures, including increased IDF and Shin Bet activity in the West Bank, curfews, offensive operations, and arrests, alongside an order for the immediate demolition of the terrorist's home.

The assailant, Qadri Samara, a 37-year-old Hamas operative, acted alone and had apparently scouted the location the day before. He opened fire on Shkaron's vehicle. A tracker from the Benjamin Brigade, present in the area, returned fire, wounding Samara and preventing further casualties, notably saving Shkaron's 16-year-old son who was in the car.

Samara, who fled to Ramallah, was apprehended by Duvdevan unit soldiers at a clinic. Simultaneously, Israeli forces raided the town of Bido, near Jerusalem, where the terrorist resided. Palestinian reports claimed forces surrounded a mosque and detained approximately 50 individuals.

Shkaron, a 44-year-old information systems analyst and resident of Eli Zahav, is survived by his wife, Merav, and six children, the youngest being four years old. His funeral was scheduled for later that evening. The community eulogized him as a kind, humble, devoted husband and father, and a deeply rooted member of their settlement.