Israeli Father of Six Murdered in West Bank Terror Attack Mourned

The funeral procession for Natanel (Nati) Shkaron, 48, who was killed in a Palestinian terror attack, began Tuesday from the community of Ali Zahav to the local cemetery. Shkaron, a father of six, was shot and killed by a Hamas operative near the Ein Ri'a spring while with his 16-year-old son, who was unharmed. The attack occurred as many Israelis visit springs for ritual immersion before the Yom Kippur holiday.

New details from the investigation reveal the attacker, identified as 37-year-old Hamas operative Qadri Samara, had been in the area for a day prior to the shooting. He allegedly exploited the holiday crowds, approaching Shkaron's vehicle and opening fire. A tracker from the Benjamin Brigade, who was in the vicinity, responded by shooting the attacker, wounding him and preventing further violence. The son was saved by this intervention.

The wounded terrorist fled the scene and sought treatment at a clinic in Ramallah. Special forces from the Duvdevan unit located and arrested him there. Initial investigations suggest the attacker acted alone.

Natanel Shkaron worked as an information systems analyst for the insurance company "Hachshara". He is survived by his wife, Merav, a computer science doctor and AI lecturer at Ariel University, and their six children, the eldest in 11th grade and the youngest aged four. He was described as a benevolent, humble, and beloved individual. The Shkaron family is a long-established and rooted family in Ali Zahav.