IDF Chief Reviews Investigation Into West Bank Terror Attack Killing Two Soldiers

The IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, received the findings of the investigation into the terror attack near the village of Tal in the West Bank, where Lieutenant Colonel Yuval Ezra, commander of a battery in Battalion 411, and Captain (res.) Beniho Malt, a local defense fighter, were killed. The attack also injured the security coordinator of the settlement Havat Gilad and several civilians who were stoned. The inquiry was presented by Central Command Chief Major General Avi Blot and Judea and Samaria Division Commander Brigadier General Kobi Heller.

The investigation revealed that the hiking trip was conducted without the required coordination and approval from security authorities. Prior intelligence was received hours before the trip, and attempts were made to gather details. The initial IDF force was deployed after observers reported stones being thrown at the hikers. Additional troops, including Lt. Col. Ezra and Captain Malt, arrived at the second confrontation point to separate Palestinians from Israeli hikers and push the attackers back into the village.

During the clash, the attackers seized the security coordinator's weapon, prompting Ezra, Malt, and the coordinator to act courageously to protect civilians and neutralize the terrorists. The terrorists were killed or wounded, and all involved were arrested. Lt. Col. Ezra was killed in combat after charging at a terrorist. It remains unclear whether Captain Malt was killed by terrorist gunfire or by IDF suppressive fire; the investigation did not reach a definitive conclusion.

The report noted that the rules of engagement were clear and allowed the troops to open fire to eliminate the threat. However, the military force on site was insufficient relative to the scale of the attack, the number of hikers, and attackers. Other forces in the area did not optimally coordinate to form a complete situational picture, deploy reinforcements, or provide timely medical evacuation. Malt was left wounded on the ground for several minutes, treated by a civilian medic without military presence.

Hours after the attack, security forces arrested two wounded terrorists at a hospital in Nablus. Major General Blot praised the bravery of Ezra and Malt, emphasizing their decisive actions prevented greater harm. Chief of Staff Zamir adopted the investigation’s conclusions, stressing the importance of strict coordination for all operations in sensitive areas. He called the attack a severe terror incident and vowed to continue professional investigations to improve IDF readiness and civilian protection.