Survivors Recount Terror at West Bank Spring Attack

Survivors of a deadly shooting attack at the Ein Ri'a spring in the Benjamin region recounted their harrowing experience more than 24 hours after the incident, which occurred on the eve of Yom Kippur. The attacker, Qadri Samara, arrived at the spring on Sunday morning and opened fire on Natanel Shkaron, who was killed. Shkaron and a military tracker engaged the assailant, preventing him from reaching other visitors.

"We only realized yesterday that the tracker and Nati saved 15 people," one survivor, Shmuel, told Ynet. "If they hadn't been there, the terrorist would have reached us." Shmuel and another survivor, Nehemia, residents of Beit Aryeh who were unarmed, were sitting near the spring. They had noticed armed individuals, including soldiers, earlier and believed the attacker waited for them to leave before opening fire.

The shooting began around 11:36 AM, less than 20 meters away. With no escape route, Shmuel and Nehemia hid under a ramp, their only available shelter. "I understood I had nowhere to run and any movement would expose me," Nehemia recalled. "We just waited for the terrorist to arrive. I turned on my camera and you can hear me asking where the army and police were. In hindsight, I'm glad I filmed because it illustrates the panic there, which reminded people of October 7th."

After a prolonged period of shooting, an army vehicle arrived. Shmuel and Nehemia emerged from hiding only when they saw numerous forces outside. There, they encountered Yoav, Natanel's son, weeping and telling soldiers he saw his father shot. Despite the trauma, the survivors stated they are not afraid and will continue visiting the spring, though Shmuel decided to apply for a gun license.

They plan to visit the Shkaron family in the settlement of Ali Zahav to offer condolences. "We will emphasize to them that we are alive because of their father and thank them," Nehemia said. "Unequivocally, if he hadn't shot the terrorist, the terrorist would have shot us."