IDF Officer Yuval Ezra Killed in Shooting Attack Near Gilead Farm in West Bank

The IDF confirmed that Yuval Ezra, an artillery company commander from Herzliya, was fatally wounded in a shooting attack near Gilead Farm in the West Bank and later died from his injuries. Ezra was the second soldier killed in the attack, which also claimed the life of Benyahu Malat, a reserve fighter and security team member at Gilead Farm. The attack occurred near the Palestinian village of Tal in Samaria, where a group of Jewish hikers was violently assaulted by dozens of Palestinians.

Video footage released earlier shows the moments leading up to the attack, including the initial confrontation at the village entrance and the ensuing violent clash. The IDF and security personnel, including Malat and the regional company commander, attempted to repel the attackers and protect the civilians. During the melee, attackers managed to seize the weapon of the Gilead Farm security officer and used it to open fire, resulting in the deaths of Ezra and Malat and injuries to three other Israelis, two critically.

Yuval Ezra will be laid to rest on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the military section of Beit Dagan Cemetery. His family will sit shiva at their home on HaAlon Street 1 in Herzliya. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and violence in the West Bank region, particularly around Israeli settlements and outposts like Gilead Farm.