Survivors Recount Terror at West Bank Spring After Deadly Attack

Two Israeli men, Nehemia and Shmuel, recounted their harrowing experience at the Ein Ri'a spring in the Benjamin region on Sunday morning, when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire, killing one man and narrowly missing them. The attack occurred more than 24 hours before the survivors began to process the event, which took place on a Sunday morning. The terrorist, Qadri Samara, arrived and began shooting at the vehicle of Natanel Shachron, who was killed in the attack. Shmuel and Nehemia, residents of the Beit Aryeh settlement, were unarmed and frequent visitors to the spring, which is located near a busy road.

They arrived at the spring around 11:00 AM and were sitting under a shelter when they heard gunfire approximately 20 meters away. Shmuel noted that there were usually armed individuals, including soldiers, present, and speculated the terrorist waited for them to leave before attacking. "There was nowhere to run," Shmuel stated, explaining they were in a slightly elevated shelter. Had the terrorist not targeted Shachron first, he would have likely proceeded directly to their location.

During the attack, while hiding under a ramp, Nehemia began filming the chaotic scene. He expressed his fear, stating, "I understood there was nowhere to run and any movement would expose me." In his video, he can be heard asking, "What about the army? What about the police?" He later reflected, "I'm glad I filmed, because it shows people what we went through in the attack and the panic that was there. It reminded people of October 7th."

Police faced communication issues and confusion regarding the attack's location, delaying their response. Shmuel and Nehemia remained unaware of the full extent of the situation until after the shooting stopped. They saw an IDF jeep arrive, and a soldier emerge with a drawn weapon, initially mistaking the sounds for the same weapon. After a long period, when the shooting ceased, they emerged to find numerous military vehicles on the road.

They learned of Natanel Shachron's death when his son, Yoav, tearfully recounted seeing his father shot. Nehemia and Shmuel expressed gratitude for Shachron's actions, believing he saved their lives and those of 15 others by confronting the terrorist. "We will emphasize to them that because of their father, we are alive and will say thank you. Because unequivocally, if he hadn't shot the terrorist, he would have shot us," Nehemia said. Both men stated they are not afraid to return to the spring and plan to visit the Shachron family to offer condolences.